Chilliwack opens new live fire training facility

CHILLIWACK — A new four-storey live fire training facility on Wolfe Road is expected to provide Chilliwack firefighters with more realistic, hands-on training.

The facility was built in part with $1.22 million from the federal government’s Build Communities Strong Fund. It is intended to expand training opportunities while improving firefighter safety, competency and operational readiness.

Chilliwack Firefighters demonstrate the new training facility along Wolfe Road on Monday night. (Image Credit: City of Chilliwack)

The metal structure will help the department meet enhanced firefighter training standards and requirements established by the Office of the Fire Commissioner of British Columbia, WorkSafeBC and the National Fire Protection Association.

“As Chilliwack grows, so does the need for more technical training opportunities for our firefighters,” Mayor Ken Popove said. “The Chilliwack Fire Department is a crew of dedicated, hardworking people who care deeply about the well-being of their community, and we are proud to be able to support their training and development.”

(Left to right) Chilliwack Councillors Chris Kloot, Jeff Shields, Jason Lum, and Nicole Read are joined by Mayor Ken Popove at Monday’s demonstration of the new training facility along Wolfe Road in Chilliwack.

The facility includes three propane-fuelled burn rooms that provide controlled live fire training with temperatures reaching about 260C. It also features a standpipe system and Fire Department Connection prop to simulate high-rise and apartment building emergencies, along with adaptable interior layouts that can be reconfigured for different training exercises.

Chilliwack Firefighters demonstrate the new training facility along Wolfe Road on Monday night. (Image Credit: City of Chilliwack)

Fire officials attending a demonstration Monday evening (July 27) say they expect the facility will be made available to other fire departments in the region to improve training across the region.