Central York Fire Services is set to build a new fire tower training structure at its Ian Laing Headquarters in Aurora, backed by more than $865,000 in provincial money.
The three-storey, modular tower structure will provide CYFS firefighters with the skills training they have had to travel for, often to Richmond Hill, according to newly appointed fire chief Rocco Volpe.
Volpe said the structure could be part of a training hub for other private schools and other emergency services.
Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy announced the funding today, Thursday, Oct. 3, as part of the province’s skill development funding stream.
“We want to ensure our firefighters are ready for the challenges they face. This is what they deserve and this is what their loved ones expect from our government,” she said. “We know that every second counts in an emergency.”
Aurora Mayor Tom Mrakas said it was fitting the new training facility was being built in the recently renamed Ian Laing Headquarters.
"He was particularly passionate about mentorship, and I know he would have been very proud that Central York Fire Service is taking this big step forward," he said.
Newmarket Mayor John Taylor said the vision for the structure "goes back a long way. The fire station, located on Earl Stewart Drive, was built on a bigger piece of land, with an eye to building such training facilities.
"It's an important step forward, because this is truly an investment," he said. "This is not a cost in any way, this is an investment, we are spending dollars here together, Newmarket, Aurora, the province, to ensure the best training we can provide to our fire service."
Volpe said he hopes the tower would be the first phase of a multi-step project. The money from province will cover half of the costs of the first stage, with the remainder of the estimated $1.8-million cost of the project coming from the fire service's reserves, according to the Town of Aurora.
Volpe said the procurement and the ground work, involving installing propane lines, should be done next year, with work beginning on installing the modular tower structure in spring 2026.
