The Fort Campbell Fire Department now has a new place to prepare for emergencies after the completion of a newly constructed Fire Fighting and Rescue Training Facility at Fort Campbell, Ky.
The $1.8 million project, managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Louisville District, features a multi-purpose helicopter trainer known as the A-500 Chinook Fire Trainer, a three-story control building, and a 2,000 gallon liquid propane tank.
"The whole facility allows the fire department to train using many different real-life scenarios to help prepare them," said Cliff Hoelzer, Project Architect.
The A-500 Chinook Fire Trainer is the first of its kind produced by Kidde Fire Trainers out of New Jersey. The helicopter trainer will enable the fire department to train fighting fires with any combination of engine, gear box, cockpit and cabin fires.
The three-story building, fabricated in Kansas by WHP, features include rappel anchors, stairs, ladders, exterior doors and windows, an access hatch to mimic a residential attic, sprinklers and more.
"This building enables the fire department to fight fires in a one, two and three-story fire scenario with many different variations available," said Cecil Whitehouse, Construction Representative.
The project, constructed by Semper-Tek/Intersteel Inc., of Lexington, Ky., was completed October 18—43 days ahead of the occupancy date so that the fire department could start using the facility.
"The Fort Campbell Fire Department, USACE, and the contractor all worked well with each other in making timely decisions to quickly resolve any issues that arose," said Jerry Chandler, Project Engineer. "This project was excellent," he said. "It couldn’t have been completed were it not for the efforts of all persons involved."