Tolles Career & Technical Center has been awarded $400,000 through Ohio's 2026 Capital Budget to support development of the Fire & EMS Training Facility of Central Ohio, a regional training center designed to strengthen firefighter and emergency medical services training for students, first responders, and departments throughout Central Ohio.
Signed into law by Governor Mike DeWine on June 15, the funding will help support construction of a four-story Fire & EMS training structure on the Tolles campus. The facility will serve not only Tolles students, but also firefighters and EMS personnel from approximately 20 fire and EMS agencies across Central Ohio.
Designed to replicate real-world emergency environments, the facility will provide advanced, hands-on training opportunities that are currently limited within the region. Planned features include multi-story search and rescue training areas, smoke-generation capabilities, rope rescue and confined-space training props, interior and exterior stairwells, standpipe systems, forcible entry doors, firefighter survival training props, EMS simulation spaces, and incident command training environments.
"This investment is about much more than Tolles," said Dr. Todd F. Hoadley, Superintendent and CEO of Tolles Career & Technical Center. "This facility will serve as a regional training hub that benefits fire departments, emergency responders, and communities throughout Central Ohio. By creating opportunities for realistic, hands-on training, we are helping strengthen the public safety workforce that residents depend on every day."
Meeting a Growing Need
As Central Ohio continues to experience significant residential, commercial, industrial, and data center growth, the need for advanced firefighter and EMS training continues to increase. The facility will allow first responders to train for multi-story incidents, commercial building operations, firefighter survival scenarios, rope rescue situations, and other complex emergencies in a controlled environment.
The project will also expand training opportunities for Tolles students enrolled in Firefighting and EMS programs while helping address ongoing workforce shortages across Ohio's public safety sector. The facility is expected to strengthen collaboration among regional departments, enhance mutual aid readiness, and provide a centralized location for standardized, multi-agency training.
"Fire departments across Central Ohio share many of the same challenges, including recruiting, training, and preparing personnel for increasingly complex emergencies," said Josh McDowell, Program Director and Public Safety Coordinator at Tolles. "This facility creates a unique opportunity for students, new firefighters, and experienced first responders to train side by side in realistic conditions. The result will be a stronger, more prepared emergency services workforce for the region."
“This facility represents a significant step forward for firefighter and EMS training in Central Ohio,” said Chief Bryan Adams of the Pleasant Valley Fire District. “By giving responders and students access to realistic, hands-on training close to home, we are strengthening operational readiness, improving firefighter safety, and enhancing the service our communities depend on every day.”
Regional Partnership
The Fire & EMS Training Facility of Central Ohio is expected to serve approximately 20 fire and EMS agencies throughout Central Ohio. The project represents a collaborative investment among Columbus State Community College, Tolles, regional public safety partners, and the State of Ohio. Additional project details and timelines will be announced as planning progresses.
"This project demonstrates what can happen when education, public safety agencies, local communities, and state leaders work together toward a common goal," said Hoadley. "We are grateful to Governor DeWine and our legislative partners for recognizing the importance of investing in the future of Ohio's emergency services workforce.
Note: Rendering images are conceptual examples of similar fire training structures and are intended to provide a general representation of what the facility may resemble. The final design of the Fire & EMS Training Facility of Central Ohio is still under development.
Photo credit: Forge Fire & Company.