First Responder training facility

The Paulding County Emergency Management Agency would like to cordially invite you to the Dedication Ceremony of the Paulding County First Responder Training Facility. The event will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 2:00pm, located at 750 Fairground Dr. across from the Black Swamp Nature Center.

This project started back in the fall of 2016, when it was announced that the State of Ohio, the Ohio Development Services Agency was going to release two separate grants totaling $10 million dollars each, for the purpose of providing funds for such items as vehicles, equipment and facilities, for first responders across the state of Ohio. The Local Government Safety Capital Grant program had over four thousand applications and awarded 91 projects. The Paulding County EMA was the only EMA in the state to receive funding, and it totaled $177,165.00.

Ground was broken in May of 2017 by the Paulding County Engineer’s Office. In the 17 months following that, site preparation, concrete work, was held up by the weather. The shipping containers were held up by the three hurricanes last summer, due to the demand for the containers for storage of personal belongings and yes even housing for some in Caribbean Islands, but once all that was completed and brought in, the project continued to move forward.

All the work performed on the project was handled by local contractors within Paulding County. 

The first responders in Paulding County as well as the surrounding counties in Ohio and Indiana will have an opportunity to use the facility to hone their skills to better serve the residents in Paulding County and the surrounding area. The limitations to what can be done at this facility are one’s imagination. Jared Page the project’s fabricator and welder has worked with the project committee and to this point. 

Firefighters, Law-Enforcement and EMS will have the ability to train on the fundamentals of their profession and together as well. Some of the exercises that will be able to be performed are: Live Fire Training in the two burn chambers, Search and Rescue, ladder evolutions, etc. by the firefighters. Search and Seizure actives, handling hostage situations, active shooter situations, drug searches, etc. Keep in mind; this is the completion of Phase I of the project. Phase II has already gotten off the ground with donations of equipment and supplies for other props to be put in place in 2018 – 2019.

The Paulding County Fire Departments will have fire trucks on hand as well as demonstrations following th ceremony, as well as demonstrations from the law enforcement. There will be Touch-A-Truck oppurtunities as well for the kids. Fire trucks, Police Cruisers, EMS Units and more. 

A highlight of the dedication ceremony will be the raising of the flags. Congressman Latta donated a US Flag that was flown over the United States Capital and 1st District State Senator McColley donated a State of Ohio Flag that was flown over the state capital. The raising of the flags will be handled by the Paulding Boy Scout Troop 578. Mark your calendars for Saturday October 20th, 2:00pm. Refreshments and giveaways will be on hand to those who attend. If the weather does not cooperate for an outdoor ceremony, the ceremony will take place at the Extension Hall, located on the fairgrounds.