WMFD breaks ground for new training facility

5,500-square-foot facility will help firefighters hone their skills

By JOHN RECH

news@theeveningtimes.com

The West Memphis Fire Department broke ground on a new training facility last Wednesday. Building plans called for a two-story structure made from shipping containers and funded by a grant. Mayor Marco McClendon, Fire Chief Barry Ealy, and Assistant Chief Derrick Clay said the center would bolster training scores under the department’s top ISO One insurance rating. The department named the new building after two of its fallen firefighters.

The 5,500 square foot center north of the municipal airport and west of the north college campus will feature a burn building for live fire training, two flashover areas, including simulators for kitchen and attic fires, multilevel rappelling, fire hydrants, fire suppression sprinklers and a hazmat training area for operations involving hazardous materials. The modular building behind the new Fire Station 2 on College Blvd, was set for June completion.

The fire department dedicated the new training center to two of its fallen Firefighter Jason Lang and Recruit David Eason. Lang died last month after stopping to render aid on Interstate 40 in St. Francis County and being struck by an 18-wheeler. Lang was on duty, driving to a training session. Eason died from a heart attack while training at the academy in Camden in 2011.

“I thank the Eason and Lang families,” said Mayor Marco McClendon. “I know you may still deal with the

See WMFD, page A3

The Eason family turned the dirt breaking ground at the new West Memphis Fire training building named in part for the late fire department recruit David Eason. Eason died of a heart attack while at the training facility in Camden during 2011. The building was set to be called the Eason-Lang Fire Training center honoring two fallen WMFD firefighters. Lang died last month en route to training after being struck down while helping at an accident scene on Interstate 40.

Photo by John Rech WMFD

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loss of your loved ones, but we thank you for their service and contributions to the City of West Memphis.”

McClendon thanked fire department personnel for their dedication and service. The mayor said the center would serve to lure recruits and retain firefighters for the department. He said the city would save some travel expenses with skills taught at the new center.

“Training here in West Memphis will save some tax dollars,” said McClendon. “It will also draw from other cities. People will come here for training, stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, and shop here generating tax revenue for the city.”

McClendon touted the location nestled next to ASU Mid-South Community College as a training hub.

“It’s next to the Marion Berry diesel training Center at the college,” said McClendon. “There is the college aviation mechanic training facility at the airport. Look all around. You will see the talent of our fire fighters being honed at this facility. It will only make things better.”

Chief Barry Ealy pointed to higher levels of preparedness with the new training center in the back yard at Station 2.

“One of the things I am most excited about is this will have a burn building and a fire tower,” said Ealy. “It will help our fire fighters with any emergency.”

Assistant Chief Derrick Clay said the building and the training conducted there would fortify the city’s top fire insurance rating.

“West Memphis Fire Department is consistently ranked as one of the safest cities in the state, and this new center will help our men and women prepare even better for the dangers they face so they can continue to keep our city safe,” said Clay.

Chief Ealy told city council the building project was driven by a grant. Councilman Tracy Catt said city funds from the American Recovery Act would be tapped.

The new West Memphis fire training center at Fire Station 2 on College Boulevard was funded by a grant. Shipping containers will form up the building which features a burn building for live fire training, two flashover areas, including simulators for kitchen and attic fires, multilevel rappelling, fire hydrants, fire suppression sprinklers and a hazmat training area. The department set a June completion date for construction

Rendering courtesy of WMFD