KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — The Kannapolis Fire Department broke ground Tuesday on a new four-story training tower at Fire Station 1 on Fire House Drive. The $1.5 million project is expected to be finished in 2027.
The tower is going up near the spot where the department's old training tower stood. That structure was recently torn down because of its age and safety concerns, and to clear room for a larger replacement. The new tower will be built from metal shipping containers.
Crews will use it to practice fire suppression, search and rescue, ladder operations, firefighter survival and Mayday response. The multiple levels will also let firefighters rehearse stairwell and interior searches, hose deployment, ventilation and rescue work in a setting closer to a multi-story building.
Fire Chief Tracy Winecoff said the project ultimately benefits the public. "This facility is an investment in our firefighters, but ultimately, it is an investment in the safety of the people we serve," he said. He also thanked Mayor Doug Wilson, the City Council, City Manager Wilmer Melton and the city's management team for supporting the project.
The department is also developing conceptual plans for a Legacy and Memorial Garden at Fire Station 1, near the training site. The proposed garden would honor retired and former volunteer and career members who served Kannapolis. No cost or timeline for the garden was announced.
