June 12, 2011 (Spring Valley)-- The official groundbreaking of the Heartland Regional Fire and Public Safety Training Centerwas celebrated on June 8th. The goal of the new center is to develop a new phase of first responder training across the East County and beyond.
During the last forty years, first responder training demands, needs, techniques and tools have changed dramatically, according to a statement isseud by San Miguel Fire Department. Heartland Fire Training Facility Authority (HFTA) and its partner agencies say they have recognized the need to develop partnerships with a wide scope of stakeholders, businesses and agencies to meet the training needs of the modern first responder and their public utility counterparts. The construction of this state of the art training center will dramatically expand the training capabilities for all HTFA partner and contract agencies.
When fully operational, the $6 million training center will provide a full range ofemergency services and public safety training venues including fire, rescue, emergency medical services, trench and confined space, hazardous materials, high-rise,classroom, and mobile training venues to name a few. The training center is being built on 2.5 acres of land provided by the Otay Water District.
Project funding has beenprovided by the following stakeholders:
Barona Band of Mission Indians
Sycuan Band of Kumeyaay Indians
Viejas Band of Kumeyaay Indians
San Diego Gas & Electric/Sempra Energy
County of San Diego, Board of Supervisors
American Red Cross
Motorola Corporation
This training center partnership will achieve a level of functional consolidation of emergency services training between local government, public utilities, and Tribal Nations that has never been achieved in the county. A successful consolidation of training service delivery will establish an unprecedented spirit of cooperation and
collaboration with improved emergency service delivery for all partner agencies in the eastern portion of San Diego County. This facility will provide a clear focus on first responder and public utilities core training on a regional basis.