Northern Ireland Opens £50M Firefighter Training Centre in Cookstown

Two major firefighter training facilities have recently opened, marking significant advancements in fire service preparedness and training. In Cape Coral, Florida, the Engineer Michael Camelo Jr. Training Center was inaugurated, featuring advanced simulations including live-fire propane-fed rooms and technical rescue areas to enhance firefighter safety and readiness. Meanwhile, Northern Ireland unveiled a long-delayed £50 million Learning & Development College near Cookstown, focused solely on fire service training after initial plans to include police and prison services were scaled back. The Northern Ireland facility offers immersive, scenario-based training environments such as flood water rescue, collapsed building simulation, slurry pit hazards, and tactical firefighting, serving not only local firefighters but also those from the Republic of Ireland. Both centers emphasize realistic, hands-on training designed to meet modern emergency service challenges and foster collaboration among emergency responders. The Northern Ireland college represents the largest capital investment in the region's fire service history and aims to support firefighters for generations to come.