Gulf Shores, Ala. — (OBA) —  Gulf Shores Fire Rescue officially opened a new fire training facility Tuesday, marking the completion of a project more than five years in the making. The $1.8 million complex at 19600 West 36th Avenue includes a four-story training tower, a Class A burn building, a claustrophobia simulator, a trench box, a pavilion, and a storage building. Fire Chief Mark Sealy said department personnel completed much of the construction in-house. The facility will also host Alabama Fire College training, drawing firefighters from across the country. 

“When I got here about six years ago, I inherited a group of people that were really driven to succeed, driven to train,” Sealy said. “I’m very blessed to have that, and we still have that, and so we've worked together. These guys have come out and put countless hours in on building things themselves and taking ownership in it and that kind of thing.”

Much of the work was done in-house to save money and ensure the city was involved in the process.

The training facility, located at 19600 West 36th Avenue, includes a pavilion, a Class A burn building, a training tower, a claustrophobia simulator, a trench box, a storage building,

The main training tower will be used to simulate various scenarios. The first floor is set up as a single-family residence. The second floor simulates a beach house. The third floor is set up like a hotel with a breezeway. The fourth floor simulates a condo. Trainees will also practice rappelling off the building and rescuing occupants from windows.

Gulf Shores City Councilman Phillip Harris said the $1.8 million facility takes training to the next level.

“We really have a skill level that a lot of departments don't deliver,” Harris said. “You know, training does a lot of things. I mean, it helps our men prepare and be more safe when they're executing, but it provides great improvement for skill level, but I think the most important thing it does is build confidence so that then when they come to a call, when they hit the ground running, they’ve got confidence in what they're doing and what they're running into.”

Harris said residents should take comfort in knowing their rescue teams are well prepared.

Firefighters from across the nation will be invited to the facility for Alabama Fire College training.