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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW White City simulation house will provide training scenarios for multiple agencies ... More snow headed for the high mountains ... Walmart to close 269 stores ... White City simulation house will provide training scenarios for multiple agencies ... More snow headed for the high mountains ... Walmart to close 269 stores ... WHITE CITY White City simulation house will provide training scenarios for multiple agencies It'll be used by firefighters, police, Pacific Power workers, students By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 15, 2016 @ 1:13 pm By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 15, 2016 @ 1:13 pm » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> WHITE CITY — Construction on an emergency training facility for fire, law enforcement and public utility agencies across southwestern Oregon is officially underway. Representatives from numerous public safety departments broke ground on the $250,000, 4,500-square-foot "regional simulation house" Friday at Jackson County Fire District 3's main headquarters, 8383 Agate Road. It's being funded by the Oregon State Fire Marshal's Office and the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training. A key feature is that the structure's layout can be changed on the fly, keeping trainees on their toes. "This house is going to provide a lot of diversity for all of us," said Dave Blakely, Fire District 3 division chief of training and safety. " We have the ability to move all of the interior walls. We can change where the bathroom's at, we can change where the kitchen's at, you can change the stairwell configuration. That is huge, you know? We talk about keeping our firefighters fresh and on the forefront of things, and we can do a lot of things with that and not be static." The structure will include the ability to spread smoke throughout, giving firefighters the chance to learn ventilation, search and safety drills there. "We'll be able to accomplish probably 95 percent of our training in this building," Blakely said. EMS providers can be drilled on patient care and how to get victims out of tight areas. Law enforcement can train for active-shooter and domestic terrorism scenarios. Public utility agencies can train on how to best respond to leak detection and on working to restore power while dealing with downed lines and transformers. Rogue Community College students can receive basic fire skills training. "It's really a collaboration of building a house that we can do simulated exercises in across all disciplines," said District 3 Chief Dan Petersen. This kind of hands-on training has been limited, fire officials say. "The best way is to get a building that's been condemned. People are going to tear it down and we have this short window of time to go in and train on it," Petersen said. "The challenges with it is that they're inside a neighborhood, so it's difficult to set up. They're great props, because they vary all the time, but they have asbestos issues. If we're going to do destructive training, we have to go through a fairly major cleanup before we can use them. And generally people don't want to let us use them for six months." The simulation house has been in the making for almost 10 years. Its design is based on a similar one in Eugene. Todd Anderson, director of Oregon's Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, said he'd like to see more throughout the state. "Those regional facilities would have training props and towers and (simulation) houses like this that both firefighters and police officers could use," Anderson said. "This is our first opportunity to be a part, and to assist financially, with a regional facility like this. We'd like to do more of it in the future." Petersen said the facility should be completed by April or May. "We'll start using it the day after it's ready," Petersen said. "Because it's going to be a quick use and opportunity." Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Jan. 15, 2016 @ 1:13 pm » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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