BELVOIR
www.belvoireagleonline.com
June 25, 2020
New fire training facility impacts region By Paul Lara Belvoir Eagle
He said the absence of this facility meant training required him to shift staff and pay overtime for fire companies to travel to Fairfax t was a rare moment on Davison Army Airfield, Tuesday, when a crucial project was funded and or Alexandria, and estimated the training facility becomes a cost-saver in about four years. completed in one garrison commander’s tenure. But, Crutcher said the impact of the facility has “That’s not too often you see that happen,” said impacts, far beyond the fence. Shane Crutcher, Fort Belvoir Fire Chief. “While this facility has Fort Belvoir Fire and Col. Michael Greenberg, garrison Emergency Services on the side of it, it’s really a commander, said it was an honor to regional tool,” Crutcher explained. see the new fire training facility “All of the Military District of project through. Washington fire department “This 2,280-square-foot training training divisions have been center is a world-class facility that down to look at it and see the provides three floors of live-fire capabilities it adds. They’re training; burn rooms; burn carts; going to be regular users flash hatches; burn windows and of this facility, as well as burn doors,” Greenberg said. “It our regional partners also enables us to create mazes, to in Fairfax County and allow firefighters to practice search the surrounding area.” and rescue scenarios to ensure “Fort Belvoir’s victim survivability. Col. Michael Greenberg, 911 Engineers have “It includes support-rope, garrison commander, right, a long-standing rescue training for rappel training leads the first line into the new relationship with us, for firefighters and MDW’s Fire Fire Training Center at Davison and we’ve signed an Rescue Engineers,” he said, adding Army Airfield, Tuesday, with memorandum of the facility also has a space for Scott Ross, assistant fire chief. understanding The five-story, state-of-the-art investigators to simulate realistic allowing the facility will be a major training fires to investigate fires’ causes 911th to train site for all MDW firefighters. and origins. with our Crutcher said the facility is a culmination of firefighters,” Greenberg said. years of work. “One of the most important “In April 2018, when I got here, one of the first features of this facility is building things I noticed was the condition of the existing confidence in our firefighters, tower. I knew it was something we had to look at so you can do your mission correcting pretty quickly,” Crutcher said. “This is when it happens, ensuring that ‘everyone goes home,’” Greenberg our bread-and-butter for what we do day-to-day, said. “This facility is a great and the only way we can continue to maintain that Fort Belvoir Fire and Emergency Services conducts a hose contribution to Fort Belvoir and level of proficiency is allow our folks to do the firstuncoupling ceremony at the new Fire Training Facility on I’m extremely proud to be part of it.” Davison Army Airfield, Tuesday. hand, real-world training associated with it.”
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Firefighters and Garrison leaders prepare to uncouple the hose at the new Fire Training Center on Davison Army Airfield, Tuesday. 3
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Photos by Paul Lara
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