Fire Department breaks ground on $600K training tower

The Springfield Fire Department broke ground his morning on a new $600,000 training tower.

The 3131 S. Clifton Ave. tower at the Springfield Fire Department Training Annex near Battlefield Road and Scenic Avenue will replace a structure in use for over 60 years at 1201 S. Campbell Ave., according to a news release.

"This new facility in essence will become a regional training asset to introduce more firefighters in the workforce," said Olan Morelan, Springfield Fire Department division chief of training, in the release. "It will help ensure our firefighters are fully prepared to protect the citizens of our community in a variety of emergency situations."

Designed by Butler, Rosenbury & Partners, the tower expected to be complete in December will have multiple stairwells, a residential training site, forcible entry structure and other training areas to prepare firefighters for the job. In addition to the Springfield Fire Department, the tower will be used by the Missouri Division of Fire Safety, Ozarks Technical Community College, University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute, Greene Country Fire Training Association, and multiple regional fire departments and police agencies.

The project is funded through the city of Springfield’s level property tax, according to the release.

[[In-content Ad]]