The City of Panama City Beach proudly unveiled its new fire department training tower early in September. The new training tower marks a major milestone in the city’s commitment to public safety and emergency preparedness. This state-of-the-art training facility, constructed out of shipping containers, is a multi-use structure designed to meet industry standards for firefighter and emergency responder training. The $1.2 million facility was partially funded through a grant.
Standing four stories high, the new training tower offers a realistic environment for training exercises. The facility features a burn room and reconfigurable walls that can be adjusted for various search and rescue scenarios, making it an invaluable resource for not only the city’s firefighters but also the police department’s S.W.A.T. unit and other emergency responders throughout Bay County.
PCB Fire Chief Ray Morgan emphasized the importance of this new training facility, stating, “Firefighters are only as good as their training. This new facility will help us train in a real-world environment. Our community deserves the best firefighter training it can get.”
The facility’s completion is expected to further bolster the city’s already impressive Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating, currently standing at Class 2. An improved ISO rating could lead to lower insurance premiums in the community, contributing to a stronger local economy. City Manager Drew Whitman noted, “The new training tower will be a cornerstone of the city’s emergency preparedness efforts, ensuring that Panama City Beach’s first responders are equipped with the skills they need to protect the community effectively.”
