Selma City Council awarded a $1.5 million contract to FA Nunnelly on Feb. 12 for Phase 1 construction of the city's new public safety training facility.
The new training facility, which will be located at 16451 Evans Road, will help train and prepare Selma firefighters and police officers, Selma Fire Chief Kyle McAfee said in an email to Community Impact.
Project details
The first phase of the project will include the construction of concrete access drives and the installation of underground utilities. The first phase will also include the construction of a burn tower, designed for firefighter training and simulation exercises, Selma City Administrator Johnny Casias said.
The training facility is being funded through 2022 certificates of obligation bond monies, Casias said in an email to Community Impact.
The impact
Both fire and law enforcement personnel are required by the state to complete annual training hours to maintain their certifications. Most of that training has to be done outside the city, which costs money and takes personnel away from their service. The new training facility will allow first responders to complete required training locally with more realistic, hands-on training, McAfee said in the email.
"It will also provide a place for regional partners to train alongside us, strengthening cooperation during multi-agency incidents," McAfee said in the email.
Regular training will also help the city maintain its Insurance Services Office Property Protection Classification of 2, which will help keep property insurance rates lower for residents and businesses, McAfee said in the email.
"In short, this facility is about staying compliant, improving readiness, working better with our regional partners, controlling costs and continuing to provide a high level of protection for our community," McAfee said.
Stay tuned
The first phase of the project is anticipated to be completed in late summer or early fall. There are currently no timelines for the other two phases, Casias said in the email.
