Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and State Fire Marshal Steve Jones joined local firefighters in Wabash on June 18 to announce the next phase of the Hub-and-Spoke Training plan: five new training-tower locations in eastern and southern Indiana. These sites continue the expansion of state-sponsored locations to help eliminate "training deserts" across Indiana.
“What we’re doing has never been done in the state of Indiana,” says Jones. “The majority of Indiana fire departments are made up of volunteers who are unable to travel far to receive the proper training. This plan tells them we care about the quality of training available to them, and we’re committed to making it more accessible.”
The second phase of new facilities to be built:
- Hartford City (Blackford County)
- Washington Township (Daviess County)
- Paoli (Orange County)
- Rushville (Rush County)
- Chrisney (Spencer County)
Following the construction of the nine designated training locations, IDHS will evaluate any remaining funding for opportunities to expand existing training sites and leverage those resources for even more training access.
Hub-and-Spoke Training Model
The Hub-and-Spoke Firefighter Training plan brings training closer for firefighters across the state while also adding consistency and quality control to basic firefighter training in Indiana. In 2023, Gov. Eric J. Holcomb and IDHS secured state funding totaling $17.7 million for fire training and equipment. These funds represent the first-ever funding allocated by the General Assembly for firefighter training and equipment.
New Training Facilities
The state is investing $7.7 million in new training sites. The goal with these funds is to provide high-quality, physical training structures within 30 miles or 45 minutes of all career and volunteer departments. The new sites will join more than a dozen sites already utilized for state firefighter training.
As part of the second phase of training center expansion, new facilities will be constructed in Washington Township (Daviess County), Chrisney (Spencer County), Hartford City (Blackford County), Rushville (Rush County) and Paoli (Orange County). These sites will join the first four new physical training locations in Corydon, Linton, Rensselaer and Wabash that were becoming operational in the second quarter of 2024.
The updated training model includes a live burn training structure on the sites by IDHS. The sites are locally owned and maintained, although the state is constructing the training facility and helping with site preparation where necessary.
Background
Legislation in 2015 established the Indiana Fire and Public Safety Academy system to meet the training needs of career and volunteer firefighters across the state. Many urban communities have their own training facilities, and the Academy hosts regular trainings to help fill the gaps to reach firefighters across Indiana. In 2022, the Academy trained nearly 2,300 people through a full curriculum of fire and hazmat training offerings. Still, many rural communities, most staffed by volunteers, find it difficult to travel to training sites. Additionally, the level of trainings may vary at sites not operated by the Academy.
To help address this shortfall, the Indiana General Assembly in 2023 approved more than $7 million to construct basic, physical firefighter training locations in areas of Indiana where firefighters must drive more than 30 miles to receive quality training.
These new training sites will be locally owned and maintained, and the state will support the construction of tower and burn facilities to allow for all hands-on firefighter training associated with the Firefighter I and Firefighter II required training. To be considered for one of these training locations, local communities were to have, at a minimum:
- Been located in an identified area of need
- Owned property with the infrastructure to allow for live burn training, such as utilities and access for fire department apparatus
- Opened the site to regional fire departments for training
Additional considerations for site selection:
- Support from local officials
- Greatest impact to total population and fire departments within 30-mile radius
All sites will be outfitted with equipment packages that include structures and props to allow firefighters to experience live fire behavior at industry-standard levels.
Volunteer Fire Department PPE Distribution
Of the $17.7 million approved by the legislature, $10 million in new personal protective equipment (PPE) has been issued to volunteer fire departments across the state.
Sixty-six departments received full sets of PPE (turnout gear and SCBA setup) based on their needs and the age of their current equipment. The selection process addressed the poorest volunteer departments first and those with the oldest equipment.
The funds are administered by the Indiana Fire and Public Safety Academy, led by the Indiana State Fire Marshal and IDHS. The vendor, MES Inc., will work directly with individual firefighters to measure and fit the equipment before delivery.
IDHS accepted submissions for several months in 2023 to determine the highest need departments. The application process is now closed.