OVIEDO, Fla. — For years, the Oviedo Fire Department has been working to build its very own fire training facility. Now, a new state grant is bringing it closer to reality.
The city already has a piece of property selected for the site, off Lockwood Blvd, that could become a one-stop shop for fire training.
Oviedo’s Fire Chief said it would be a game-changer for the department, allowing the city to better attract new recruits and advancing the city’s long-term goal of becoming an ISO (Insurance Service Office) Class One-rated fire department.
According to Oviedo Fire Chief Michael Woodward, city firefighters currently utilize facilities in other cities to meet annual training requirements.
Woodward explained every firefighter needs 192 training hours a year, 16 hours need to be based at a specially equipped training facility, which the city does not currently have.
“We’re using other agencies to be able to help facilitate our orientation process for our new hires because we don’t have that capability,” said Woodward.
However, the city recently received a $500,000 grant to start designing the training facility that would include a four-story drill tower and two burn rooms for live training.
“Anything that anyone would call 911 for the fire department for, we could do training there with that facility,” said Woodward.
The Chief told Channel 9 it’s essential for firefighters to train regularly. He said muscle memory can make the difference when the seconds count.
Currently, firefighters and new recruits are often heading to nearby cities, including Apopka, Sanford, and Longwood, to meet training requirements. That often happens on weekends when those agencies are not using their facilities.
Woodward explained that a city-owned training center would allow for daily training and would advance the city’s goal of eventually becoming an ISO Class One fire department.
ISO evaluates how prepared a community is to respond to structure fires and assigns a rating from Class 1 to Class 10, which insurance companies use to calculate property insurance rates.
The city of Oviedo’s Fire Department is currently rated as two out of 10. It’s just shy of a Class One, which is the best rating.
The chief said the training facility is expected to cost about $2 million, and additional grants will likely be needed to fully fund the project. The chief also said sales tax funds could be used to complete the training center.
The project is advancing at a time when funding for public safety has been called into question in the city.
In November, voters will decide on amendment three.
The measure needs to be approved by 60 percent of voters to take effect. If approved, it would expand Florida’s homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and $250,000 in 2028.
Oviedo’s Mayor Megan Sladek previously told Channel 9 that if Amendment 3 is approved, Oviedo would have no choice but to make massive shifts to survive.
According to the mayor, nearly 63% of the city’s property tax revenue is allocated to police and fire services.
“Everybody’s going to be looking at significant ways to reduce and we’re going to have to look at different ways to conduct our business if it does pass,” said Woodward.
Woodward explained that the department is now one of many across the state of Florida that may need a Fire Assessment Fee. Though some in the city have also floated consolidation with the Seminole County Fire Department.
“I feel we could provide that same level of service and still be less expensive than if the county were to come and take over,” said Woodward.
Woodward said the city is still ironing out details regarding the potential impacts of Amendment 3. A workshop is scheduled for August 31st.
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