Work is starting soon on a large regional fire and police training facility near Stanwood.
When complete, a portion of the 33-acre site will be home to classrooms, prop buildings and a variety of street layouts for training. The facility is aimed at filling a regionwide need for space to train and is expected to attract myriad public safety personnel from across the Northwest all year long, possibly generating money for North County Regional Fire Authority.
"This will make us a stronger, better fire service," Chief John Cermak said during a groundbreaking ceremony Aug. 3. "We have put ourselves forward to be leaders in fire training in the region." Construction of the first phase of the facility, just west of Exit 215 off Interstate 5, should be complete in January, according to North County Fire.