GREENVILLE — Darke County firefighters now have a new place to prepare for dangerous emergencies after a regional training facility opened, made possible by a $750,000 state grant, community donations, and cooperation among area fire departments.
The Darke County Regional Fire Training Facility will give firefighters opportunities to practice in realistic conditions while strengthening relationships among the 21 member departments of the Darke County Association of Fire Chiefs.
Greenville Fire Chief Russell Thompson said the project represents a commitment to firefighters and the people they protect, with benefits extending beyond the opening ceremony to emergency scenes throughout the region.
“Today represents much more than the opening of a building,” Thompson said. “It represents the commitment to the firefighters who serve Darke County and the surrounding communities, and ultimately, it represents a commitment to the safety of the people we are sworn to protect.”
Thompson estimated the facility itself cost about $850,000. Including concrete work and other infrastructure, the overall investment is approaching $1 million, he said.
The facility stands on property owned by the city of Greenville. The association secured a 30-year lease with the city to establish the training site, providing a home for a project developed through years of planning and fundraising.
Thompson said fundraising began in 2023 with sponsorships and donations from across Darke County. The association subsequently applied for funding through Ohio’s One-Time Strategic Community Investment Grant program and received $750,000 for the project.
He credited assistance in connecting the association with state legislators and thanked state Rep. Angie King for her support. Local contributions helped turn that state investment into a completed training facility.
King, who represents Ohio’s 84th House District, said supporting the project meant investing directly in first responders’ safety.
“I am very proud to advocate for this project,” King said. “It’s an investment in the lives of the men and women who put their lives on the line for us, and so this ensures that they have the tools and the training necessary to make sure that they go home safely.”
King said advocating for rural communities includes ensuring their needs are heard and that they receive a fair share of available resources. Seeing the facility come together, she said, was who represents Ohio’s 39th Ho an exciting result of that work.
Plummer said he developed his appreciation for firefighter training at home. His father worked as a Dayton firefighter for 36 years, and his family wanted him to return safely after every shift.
State Rep. Phil Plummer, representing Ohio House District 39, also pointed to his 30 years in law enforcement as a reason he understands the importance of preparing emergency responders.
“This will help save lives, help out with the first responders,” Plummer said. “I look forward to helping out in the future with these projects.”
Greenville Mayor Jeff Whitaker said a shared facility offers opportunities individual rural communities might struggle to afford.
“This is an awesome facility, not only for Darke County firefighters, but the surrounding counties as well,” Whitaker said.
He said access to training can make a difference between life and death, crediting the legislators who helped secure funding and the firefighters who will use the facility to prepare for emergencies.
For Rossburg Fire Chief Rob Widener, one of the most immediate advantages is reducing the distance departments must travel for training.
Widener said comparable training towers are in Springfield, Lima, or Dayton. Reaching those sites can take an hour or more, making it harder to pull crews from their departments for training.
He said a closer facility makes it more feasible to send one or two crews for training. Departments can practice realistically without the travel demands of more distant locations.
Widener said community support extended beyond financial donations. Companies and villages also contributed materials, construction equipment, and other assistance needed to complete the project.
Thompson said the facility addresses a need that classroom instruction alone cannot meet.
Firefighters respond to structure fires, vehicle crashes, technical rescues, hazardous conditions and other emergencies that require quick decisions under pressure. Preparing for those calls means experiencing conditions that resemble what crews may encounter while protecting lives and property.
“They need to experience heat, smoke, limited visibility, changing conditions,” Thompson said.
The training site provides a controlled environment where firefighters can practice, identify mistakes, and learn from them before facing similar challenges during an actual emergency, he said.
Thompson emphasized that the project serves the regional fire service, not a single department. Training together helps firefighters and officers build relationships before they are called to work together at an emergency scene.
“The partnerships developed here will make us better firefighters, better officers, and better organizations,” Thompson said. “More importantly, they will make us better prepared to protect our communities.”
He recognized training committee members Rob Widener of Rossburg, Scoob Cook of New Madison, Miles Stump of Pitsburg, Dusty Johns of Versailles, and Greg Miller of Union City.
Their work included meetings, planning, coordination, problem-solving, and the many details required to complete the facility, Thompson said.
He also thanked elected officials, community leaders, businesses, organizations, contractors, and individuals who contributed time, resources, and expertise. Thompson described those contributions as investments in every community the departments serve. He said the finished facility reflects cooperation among people who shared a goal of improving emergency preparedness and giving firefighters opportunities to develop their skills together in a safe, controlled training environment.
The ceremony also recognized two original committee members who died before the project was finished: Kurt Troutwine of the Arcanum Fire Department and Brian Pearson of the Versailles Fire Department.
Thompson said Troutwine helped establish the project’s early vision and laid the groundwork that allowed planning to move forward. His involvement reflected a belief that firefighters needed a dedicated place to train and prepare.
Pearson remained involved throughout the facility’s development and, Thompson said, helped approve the final design. His experience and leadership guided the committee through key planning decisions.
“Their vision, dedication, and commitment to the fire service helped make this day possible,” Thompson said.
Looking ahead, Thompson said the association will use fundraising activities and seek local grants to help maintain the facility. Those efforts include volunteering at racing events that provide the association with a portion of 50-50 raffle proceeds, along with other raffles.
The association can schedule training after it approves its constitution and tower regulations at its upcoming Monday meeting, Thompson said. He also hopes the site will help recruit and retain volunteer, part-time and career firefighters.
Thompson thanked firefighters’ families, acknowledging the interrupted evenings and time away from home that come with emergency service.
“This facility was built for you,” he told firefighters. “It is a place where you can sharpen your skills, challenge yourself, train with your brothers and sisters from other departments, and prepare for the worst day someone else may ever have.”
Thompson said the facility’s lasting value will be measured by how well it prepares firefighters to rescue families, save homes, and return safely from calls.
To mark the opening, organizers chose a gesture familiar to the fire service: uncoupling a hose in place of cutting a ribbon.
