$25-Millon Bruce Power Fire Training Facility Unveiled

Firefighters at Bruce Power have a new training facility.

President and CEO Duncan Hawthorne cut the ribbon on the new $25-million facility, which is designed to better prepare firefighters with realistic scenarios.

Hawthorne says the building is designed with replicas of equipment found inside Bruce Power's two stations.

"It recreates what you'd expect to see in a turbine hall, some of our large pumps and equipment. Areas in the plant that you would consider if there were any fires, they'd be the most difficult to manage," says Hawthorne.

It will also benefit local municipalities, whose volunteer firefighters will have the opportunity to train at the facility.

Hawthorne says the mutual aid agreements with their neighbours means local fire departments could be called to the site in the event of an emergency, and those firefighters need to be trained for what they could encounter at Bruce Power.

The 23,000 square-foot facility took a year and a half to build and is expected to be put into operation by June.

A Bruce Power emergency-responder performs a high-angle rescue drill. Photo by Jordan MacKinnon.

A "fire" in the mock-up turbine generator hall. Photo by Jordan MacKinnon.