Chris Koehl Fire Training Facility

In 2010, Washington Fire Chief Mike Vaughn began an effort to create the first fire training facility in Tazewell County in Washington.  That year, $300,000 was secured from the City of Washington and the Washington Fire Protection District to construct the facility, which was to be constructed on the far east end of Constitution Street. A portion of that money was accumulated by stretching the life of one of the department’s fire trucks that was set to be replaced.  The facility was finally constructed in 2011 and named after Chris Koehl, long-time Washington Fire Chief.

The facility immediately paid dividends to the fire department.  Before, the fire department would have to rent out the Peoria fire training facility, and usually, only a portion of the fire department would be able to attend training. Now, firefighters could attend training multiple times per month.  The facility contains interior stairs, movable interior walls, and a room reaching up to 1,200 degrees.  Firefighters can also practice second-story rescues and almost any other scenario in a real fire.  Multiple local departments have used the facility for their own benefit, and the University of Illinois has held classes there.  It is uncommon for a town the size of Washington to have such a facility.