ROCK FALLS, Ill. — The Rock Falls Fire Department has been planning a $1.5 million training facility over the past few years. This new building will allow fire training opportunities to better prepare firefighters for emergency situations.
Today, the department hosted a meeting and tour with Rep. Eric Sorenson to detail their proposal for the new facility.
Deputy Fire Chief Kyle Sommers said it will allow emergency simulation training like search and rescue, as well as having classrooms.
"The fire service is so dynamic so everything is always changing," Sommers said. "So because of that we constantly have to train. From the time we start till the time were retired. Training is the most important part for us."
But the new training area means much more to the department, as it honors the sacrifice of Sterling firefighter Captain Garret Ramos.
In December 2021, Ramos was battling a house fire in rural Rock Falls when he passed away. He started plans for the new training building before his death.
The fire department began pushing for the building shortly after Ramos' death. That's why the new facility will be called the Garrett Ramos Training Facility Cooperative, as he was a heavy advocate for fire training.
"He was great guy to work for. He would do anything. He would do anything for anybody," Rock Falls Firefighter Matt Oswalt said.
Oswalt said this drive for consistent training is crucial in the long run.
"Every firefighter should be all about training, "Oswalt said. "If your not training what are you doing. If your not getting better your getting worse."
The plans for the facility are still in development as they now wait for the proposal to be approved by Congress. but the department has already scouted a location for the building approximately a mile away from the station.
Sommers said they wouldn't have been able to start this process if it wasn't for Ramos' work to increase training around the area.