The City of Findlay and Findlay Fire Department were pleased to host a ribbon cutting on Wednesday, September 11 for the STRICT (Simulated Tactical Response & Incident Command Training) Center which is located behind Fire Station 4 on County Road 236. The training building and burn building will allow local and state fire, police, and EMS personnel to train together in realistic scenarios. This $2.4MM facility was made possible through financial contributions from the City of Findlay, State of Ohio, local businesses, organizations, and private individuals in Hancock County.

“We have a responsibility to the public by getting out here, getting our hands on the tools. We make our mistakes here at the training facility, so we don’t make them when we are actually responding to an emergency,” says Fire Chief Josh Eberle.

“I am thankful to lead a team that recognizes the importance of proactive training,” says Mayor Muryn, “This project is the culmination of 6.5 years of planning and hard work that took collaboration and support from across the community. I am honored to be here today to see it come to fruition.”

A 9/11 Memorial Ceremony took place during the opening as well. Assistant Chief Brian Sanders performed the tolling of the bells in recognition of the lives lost in the 9/11 attacks while the Findlay Police Color Guard stood at attention. The 5-5-5 signal is performed by ringing the bell and is a sign of honor and respect for all firefighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

The Findlay Fire Department looks forward to hosting an open house for the community during Fire Prevention week in October. Additional details will be shared at a later date.