GPSTC builds two new fire training facilities

FORSYTH, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Georgia Public Safety Training Center will soon be home to the state’s only public fire protection lab.

“We’re going to teach people how to suppress those fire before they even happen,” explains the Division Director for the GPSTC Fire Academy, Chief David Wall.

In his own words, the only thing holding Chief Wall back is his imagination.

“We’re training basic firefighters in a recruit firefighter school. They’re used to just seeing this on the screen in a power point and in a book. Now, we’ll be able to walk right out of the classroom, take them to put their hands on it,” continues Chief Wall.

The fire protection lab is a classroom equipped with sprinklers, alarms, hood systems you’d see over stoves in restaurants, and risers you’d find in hotels.

“When I was in training, we didn’t have things like that,” recalls Private Carell Rembert with the Macon-Bibb Fire Department.

Rembert remembers the majority of the calls during his first year were to historic buildings that had sprinkler systems.

“Actually seeing how we wedge them and actually disarming those alarms was something. It wasn’t foreign to me because we went through it in training, but I didn’t actually put my hands on it,” says Rembert.

The new additions to GPSTC don’t stop there. A commercial-industrial training simulator will help experienced firefighters with decision making. They’ll have to look at a burning building and pick which rooms to enter first.

“First thing and foremost is life safety. We always want to make sure that the building is evacuated,” adds Rembert.

But prevention is key.

“Once a fire starts, it’s an indication that our prevention efforts have failed,” states Chief Wall.

Since the equipment in the new lab is used to prevent fires, Chief Wall hopes his firefighters will be more prepared to respond to calls. Chief Wall estimates both projects cost more than half a million dollars paid for with bonds from the state. He hopes to have them open by September.