Franklin BOC Approves Funding for New Firefighter Training Center

Franklin County Commissioners have approved a plan by the Franklin County Fire Association to build a training center in Carnesville on Hubbard Road, at the site of the previous training facility.

At their meeting this week, the Board voted unanimously to approve the plan presented by Red Hill Fire Chief Joe Greene at their work session last month.

Greene is also the current president of the Firefighters Association in Franklin County.

Greene said the new training center will help firefighters learn how to better handle commercial and industrial fires.

“It will enhance our ability to know more about industrial fires and the ability to train them. This will be a state-of-the-art facility. There will be many types of training there,” he said.

Another advantage to the new training facility, Greene noted, is its ability to attract new volunteer firefighters.

“It will help us recruit new firefighters. Young people. We need some young people. We have one of the largest fire stations in the county but our average age is 50 years old.We need some young people. This will help us recruit young people. If we can get some sort of training at the high school from the vocational department, it’s right across the street,” he said.

Greene said each fire department in Franklin County has committed to using the new training center at least once a quarter.

Additionally, Greene said the new center will help lower the County’s ISO rating.

The total cost of the new firefighter training center, Greene said is $458,000.

County manager Derrick Turner said it will be paid for out of SPLOST funds and the county would pay for the concrete slab and footings.

Greene said construction on the new fire training center should take 8-12 months.