The future of fire training unveiled

June 22, 2006

Internal Affairs Minister Rick Barker will officially open the Fire Service’s state-of-the-art National Training Centre in Rotorua on July 6.

The centre has been running since March, and the ceremony will coincide with the graduation of the first recruits to train there.

Facility manager Ray Brown says the training centre is set up to meet the Fire Service’s training needs well into the future.

As well as modern features for operational training, such a fully-functioning mock station and a specialised compartment fire training building – where firefighters can experience fire behaviour in an enclosed space first-hand – the centre is well equipped for theory-based learning with lecture rooms, break-out rooms and a library.

“The centre is set up to be as environmentally sound as possible, with an oxidising tower to burn the smoke from the compartment fire trainer.

“We also contain all the water used for firefighting in a dedicated storage tank, treat it, then recycle it back into the system so that it is not released into the environment.”

The opening ceremony will start with a powhiri at 1.30pm, with the official opening at 2.45.

A tour of the centre and afternoon tea will follow.

ENDS

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