VIDEO/PHOTOS: Goodview Fire Department is planning a major addition that will help prepare its firefighters for the challenges of today’s fires while honoring a former chief’s legacy along the way. After more than a year of planning, the department is moving forward with building its own training facility— to be named the Gruett Training Grounds in memory of late Fire Chief Jason Gruett. “Training was important to him,” Acting Fire Chief Matt Kramer said. “The best way we can honor him is by training harder in a more realistic format.” Right now, firefighters practice inside the department’s apparatus bay—a space Kramer says doesn’t truly reflect real fire conditions. The new facility will change that. Plans call for a fully furnished, house-like structure designed to simulate real-world scenarios, including rooms, stairwells, and a basement.
