Training Facility Raises Bar For Fighting Fires In Green Country

Tulsa firefighters now can take advantage of a new state-of-the-art training center.

It’s expected to bring a new standard of training that will help first responders save lives.

The nearly $16 million facility located on the Northeast TCC campus is an extensive training facility that provides training opportunities for not only firefighters in the Tulsa area, but also for firefighter education. It's the only one if its kind here in the region.

“This facility, not just for Tulsa but for the outlying departments and regionally, it's going to save lives," TFD Capt. John Wilent said.

Friday morning at the grand opening, city leaders and representatives from across Green Country celebrated with a tour of the facility and demonstrations of its capabilities.

From a nine-story drill tower with at least 11 different training features to a special operations building housing search and rescue trucks, specialized equipment and more.

The Tulsa Fire Safety Training Center will serve the community college, Tulsa fire, Regional departments and others.

Chief Ray Driskell, Tulsa Fire "It's not only the first of its kind but every, just any one of these props that we're talking about -- and there's at least 6 of them out here -- we don't have anything like that at the current drill tower,” Chief Ray Driskell said.

Making it a new and exciting opportunity for the men and women who put their lives on the line every time you dial 911.

"This is absolutely incredible,” Wilent said. “What an opportunity, especially as a training officer, to be able to be on the ground floor of this, this is kind of like 6 flags for firemen and I get to help run it, It just doesn't get any better than that."

The city says it is not going to stop here, because there is still a lot of room for growth.