HAGERSTOWN – The Washington County Board of County Commissioners has approved a $350,600 contract with Rockwell Construction Co. for the concrete foundation of a fire training “burn building” at the Public Safety training center’s tactical village.
Part of the county’s Capital Improvement Plan, the project is a key component of the phased construction of the tactical village, a structure designed to simulate real-world conditions for law enforcement, fire and emergency services training.
The steel-frame burn building and training tower are set for delivery this fall and will be installed on the new foundation. Work is expected to begin later this month and be completed within 60 days. Additional site work, including paving for apparatus operators and defensive driving areas, will be advertised later this year.
A specialized structure used for firefighter training, a burn building simulates real-world fire scenarios in a controlled environment. Constructed with fire-resistant materials like concrete and steel, it features multiple rooms, stairways and props to replicate residential, commercial, or industrial settings.
With safety features and systems to ignite and extinguish controlled fires, burn buildings allow firefighters to practice search and rescue, fire suppression, and ventilation techniques under realistic conditions.
In a separate decision, the commissioners awarded contracts totaling $99,700 for fire service testing and inspection of hoses, pumps, ladders and aerial devices to ensure the safety and readiness of emergency equipment.
The contract, effective Oct. 1, includes testing for approximately 200,000 feet of hose, 53 engines, eight ladder trucks and eight aerial ladders, meeting National Fire Protection Association standards.
The Division of Emergency Services will manage the testing, with funding provided through the 2026 budget. The contract allows for two additional one-year renewals.
Additionally, the board authorized Community Rescue Service to establish a new sub-station at the Antietam Fire Company station in north Hagerstown to address high call volumes and reduce strain on rural resources.
The substation, costing $113,500, is included in the Division of Emergency Services’ fiscal year 2026 operating budget. The county is projected to provide $2.1 million in support for Community Rescue Service in 2026, with the city of Hagerstown contributing $45,000. Approximately 70 percent of CRS calls serve Hagerstown residents.
