Training Center Grand Opening

Antonio Archuleta Photo ©

The Grand Junction Fire Department, City of Grand Junction, Colorado Division of Fire Prevention and Control, and Colorado Mesa University celebrated the grand opening of their new Training Facility on October 26th, 2020, which is located on Whitewater Hill. The new facility is a ModX built by WHP Training Towers. The facility allows the GJFD Fire Academy to have an official training site and allows area departments to use this facility instead of travelling out of the county for training. The facility is a Class B Burn Building with gas props and artificial smoke; the first of its kind on the Western Slope. The ceremony was held as an invite-only to comply with current health regulations limiting gathering sizes. The training grounds includes the live burn structure, outbuildings, modular class-rooms and a coverall “station” for apparatus storage.

The ceremony included guest speakers from the city and DFPC including GJFD Chief Watkins, Deputy Chief Hendricks, DFPC Section Chief Mike Scott, DFPC Director Mike Morgan and Department of Public Safety Executive Director Stan Hilkey. Representatives from the City of Grand Junction, Grand Junction FD, and DFPC were in attendance.

The Lower Valley Fire District, East Orchard Mesa Fire Protection District, Clifton Fire Protection District, and Colorado River Fire Rescue had representatives in attendance as well. The site is part of the training complex developed by Colorado Mesa University, DFPC and the GJFD. The site was funded by Mesa County Federal Mineral Lease monies.