Training Tower

Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Fire Training Complex

In the early 1980's a group of dedicated fire fighters decided that a local facility was needed were local fire departments could go and receive live hands on fire fighting training. As a result of this fore sight a sub-committee of the Hastings & Prince Edward Counties Mutual Fire Aid Association was formed to proceed with this project. Fund raising began in earnest and volunteer labour started the project going. The then City of Trenton provided the land on a 25 year lease at virtually no cost with CFB Trenton contributing a large donation. The first construction began in 1984 with the Training Tower and soon after with the maze building and garage under the direction of Mr. Robert Armstrong. The Maze building was later converted to a classroom with washrooms added. Portable classrooms were obtained for the present maze building. Several confined space areas were added. A freestanding sprinklered ventilation tower was added via a donation from Proctor and Gamble. In 2011 a 1992 E-1 pumper truck was donated by Quinte West Fire Department for use at the Training Tower. Also a outside work/picnic shelter was constructed by Dale Milligan Construction.

Today the facility is used by the 17 member fire departments of the Mutual Fire Aid Association including CFB Trenton. The Military Base also use it, some police forces, industrial emergency crews and municipal employees and fire fighters from outside the area have also attended courses.

The Training Tower Committee has been approved to hold off campus courses sanctioned by the Ontario Fire College with assistance from their instructors and the Mutual Aid own certified instructors. Some of these courses are not limited to but included Ice and Swift Water Rescue, Module A, Module B, Fire Scene Assessment, Extrication and Pump Operations. These courses allow fire fighters to obtain their company officers and other certification courses without having to travel to the OFC at Gravenhurst.