Where There’s Smoke, There’s Training: KBRFR’s New Live Fire Facility
By RDKB
The Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue (KBRFR) is proud to announce that its new fire training centre at 801 Rossland is now fully operational. Community members may have noticed smoke pouring from the doors and windows during weekly practice nights — a clear sign that firefighters are gaining essential, hands-on experience in realistic training scenarios.
Opened in 2025, the state-of-the-art facility represents a significant milestone for KBRFR. Fire Chief Dan Derby remarked at the official opening, “This centre embodies our dedication to progress, leadership, and teamwork — and our ongoing commitment to firefighter safety, and to protecting and serving our communities with excellence.”
For years, KBRFR firefighters trained with limited resources, often improvising in challenging conditions. The new training centre now provides a purpose-built environment to modernize training and prepare crews for the evolving demands of the job. Central to the facility is a propane-fueled live burn room on the second floor, paired with a theatrical smoke system and computerized controls, enabling safe yet realistic fireground training. Key training evolutions include:
- Transitional, indirect, and direct interior fire attacks
- Door control and ventilation strategies
- SCBA use and firefighter survival skills
- Forcible entry on inward and outward-swinging doors
Additional features enhance the training experience, including:
- Anchors and stairways for high-angle rescue and rope operations
- Confined Space props
- Fully functional sprinkler and standpipe systems
- Interior wall breach props and moveable partitions for diverse scenarios
- Exterior lighting systems for night training
Chief Derby emphasized, “This isn’t just a training centre — it’s a proving ground. It allows our firefighters to face realistic, evolving challenges in a controlled and safe environment so that when the alarm sounds, we are ready.”
A key benefit of the centre is how it brings all KBRFR stations together to train side-by-side. “We may respond from different stations, but this facility reinforces that we are one department — one family — working together to serve and protect our communities.”
Live fire sessions are planned for September and October, alongside specialized courses in confined space and rope rescue. The 801 Rossland training centre is helping KBRFR firefighters build the real-world skills necessary to meet today’s challenges safely, professionally, and united.
Chief Derby concluded his speech with a message of pride and gratitude:
“May this building stand strong for years to come and may every firefighter who walks through these doors leave better prepared, more confident, and more connected to the work we do, proudly upholding the values of being a firefighter.
We would not be standing here today without the generous support of our sponsors. I want to extend a sincere thank you to the Office of the Fire Commissioner, the Union of BC Municipalities, FortisBC, BC Hydro, and the City of Trail. Your contributions have helped turn this vision into reality, and your commitment to firefighter training and public safety is truly commendable. I would also like to thank the Regional District Kootenay Boundary for your ongoing support.”
Kootenay Boundary Regional Fire Rescue also had their wildfire response trailer on display that was generously donated by Columbia Basin Trust through the Small Community Wildfire Readiness Supports. The Columbia Basin Trust Small Community Wildfire Readiness Support (Program) helps small Basin and First Nations communities plan and prepare for wildfires through wildfire prevention and protection planning/assessments, training, and equipment. Our wildfire response trailer improves our ability to respond to wildland fires, ultimately improving the resiliency or our communities.
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