Fire Chief Kevin Clifford says it's as essential as a fire truck. Clifford telling council he's noticed a decline in skill and judgement with fire crews since they lost their facility in Millidgeville 5 years ago when it became unsafe and old. He adds that the closest training centre is 40 minutes away, which would greatly decrease response time in an emergency if crews were training out of town.
Training is also not weekly or monthly, but ideally a daily hour and a half practice. Clifford says they need a site where 2 or 3 fire trucks can operate and simulate an emergency situation, which is something they could never practice on a public street. And although crews practice basic skills in a basement in Millidgeville, it's not ideal and they can't accurately simulate fire situations.
