PEMBROKE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – A state of the art training facility is set to be built at the Pembroke Fire Department that will provide firefighters in and around Christian County with access to specialized training.
In the first phase of the grant process, the department has been awarded a $50,000 from the Kentucky Fire Commission Training Facility Grant Board, with the entire project costing about $250,000. Final paperwork is being processed to move the process forward, with next steps including opening the project for bids and sorting out permits, according to Pembroke Fire Chief Nicholas Belair. He is hoping they will break ground in early 2025.
“This facility will not only impact local firefighter but could help us and other agencies lower our ISO ratings which will impact the residents of our fire district and residents in sounding communities’ potential save some money,” Belair told Christian County Now.
Regional impact
The large facility will be open to fire departments throughout the region and state, and will allow them to conduct live fire training, search and rescue operations, ventilation, forcible entry and other fire ground associated tasks. They plan to utilize the existing certified IFSAC instructors in Oak Grove and Pembroke Fire Departments to allow firefighters to get the required yearly Kentucky State Fire Training Hours when the facility opens.
“We are very fortunate to have three career departments within 30 minutes of our location and this facility could help provide the training needed for individuals to get the basic requirements to apply to these departments if they wanted to make this a career,” said Belair.
Belair noted that several city and county leaders supported the department’s efforts in applying for the grant, including State Representative Myron Dossett, State Senator Whitney Westerfield, Judge Executive Jerry Gilliam, Pembroke Mayor Jeanette Aldridge, Magistrate Phillip Peterson, along with Fairview, Highland, Honey Grove and Trenton Fire Departments.
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