Sumter County officials, first responders and community leaders gathered Tuesday morning to celebrate the opening of a new joint training facility and emergency shelter designed to strengthen emergency preparedness, support first-responder training and enhance the county’s sheltering capabilities.

The facility, located at 227 Gloria Rowe Hayward Way in Sumterville, includes a 25,444-square-foot emergency shelter and a four-story training tower that will be shared by Sumter County Fire & EMS and The Villages Public Safety Department.

During the “uncoupling” ceremony, because you can’t cut a fire hose, Sumter County Commission Chairman Don Wiley said the project represents an investment in public safety and preparedness for county residents.

According to county officials, the facility was designed to support both emergency sheltering and public safety training. The shelter can accommodate up to 237 special-needs residents and 672 members of the general population during emergencies.

The facility is part of the larger Gloria Rowe Hayward Sumter County Service Center complex and was built through a partnership with Ajax Building LLC and Clemons Rutherford & Associates.

Sumter County Fire Chief Rob Hanson said the new facility will help improve local training opportunities for firefighters, EMTs and paramedics.

“These facilities represent an important opportunity, not only how we prepare and train, but how we work together to protect the community,” he says. “The tower provides our staff with the opportunity to train in realistic hands-on environments without having to leave the county,” Hanson said.

He also noted that one of the facility’s greatest benefits will be the ability for personnel from multiple agencies to train together.

“By training side by side in these scenarios, we build stronger communication, teamwork, and coordination before emergencies happen,” Hanson says. “That preparation ultimately leads to better outcomes for the residents we serve.”

The Villages Public Safety Department Fire Chief Brian Twiss also spoke.

“This joint training facility represents an incredible opportunity for continued growth, joint training and partnership between our department,” Twiss says.

Twiss added that the facility reflects a shared commitment to protecting the community through preparation, professionalism and teamwork.

“We are proud to partner with Sumter County Fire and EMS to ensure that our teams are ready to meet the needs of our growing community,” he says.

Following the ceremony, attendees toured both the emergency shelter and training tower. During the tour, Hanson explained that portions of the training tower can be reconfigured to create different training scenarios, allowing firefighters and emergency personnel to practice in changing environments. Live-fire training will not take place inside the tower. Instead, smoke machines throughout the facility will simulate emergency conditions, while live-fire exercises will be conducted at a separate outdoor training area adjacent to the tower.

Officials also announced a public demonstration event scheduled for June 26 from 5 to 7 p.m. The event will include a family-friendly touch-a-truck experience followed by a joint training demonstration showcasing how the two departments work together during emergency situations.

Photos by Cindy Peterson