Troutville, VA, Fire Training Center Damaged by Blaze Unrelated to Drill

Firefighters who responded to a structure fire in Troutsville Friday were familiar with it as they trained in it.

Firefighters were returning from another call when they saw smoke and investigated. Encountering heavy fire showing from the building at the Troutsville Fire Training Center -- adjacent to their property --  they quickly called for additional resources.

“This fire comes as a shock to us all. The impacts of this significant loss will take time to recover from. But we will find ways to better our resources through this loss to our department and region,” said Troutville Fire Chief Zach Beckner told WSLS.

“We certainly weren’t prepared to be responding here this morning to see fire and smoke coming out of our building here that we use for training."

Dozens of wooden training props fueled the fire.

“It’s a fixture in the community and it’s something that we have all relied on for years and years to do this business. So we will have to revalue this and look forward to what the future brings, and we are going to do that together and make the best of it,” Boutetourt County Fire & EMS Chief Jason Ferguson told WDBJ.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Fire and EMS personnel from departments througout Botetourt and Southwestern Virginia train at the site, where the volunteer fire academy was held.