Firefighters in Pulaski County and surrounding areas now have access to firefighter training facilities closer to home following the completion of Indiana’s Hub-and-Spoke Training Program.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun recently announced the completion of 14 new firefighter training sites across Indiana, including one in Rensselaer in Jasper County and another in Wabash. The facilities were created to expand access to hands-on training for both career and volunteer firefighters.
For some Pulaski County fire departments, the Rensselaer facility will significantly reduce travel for required training. Previously, firefighters needed to travel more than 30 miles to attend courses offered through the Indiana Fire and Public Safety Academy or other approved training locations.
The new training site in Wabash may also provide a closer option for firefighters in Marshall County.
According to a release on the facilities from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, the Indiana General Assembly approved $17.7 million in 2023 to improve firefighter training and equipment throughout the state. Of that amount, $7.7 million was used to establish 14 regional training sites designed to place firefighter training within approximately 30 miles, or about 45 minutes, of career and volunteer fire departments. The remaining $10 million funded new personal protective equipment for volunteer fire departments.
The training sites are locally owned and maintained, while the state funded the construction of training towers, burn buildings, and other facilities needed to complete the hands-on requirements for Firefighter I and Firefighter II certification.
In addition to Rensselaer and Wabash, new training sites have been established in Blackford, Daviess, Fountain, Greene, Harrison, Jackson, Knox, Orange, Randolph, Rush, Spencer, and Hendricks counties.
According to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, each site is equipped with training structures and props that allow firefighters to complete live-fire exercises and other practical training using equipment that meets industry standards.
