Design of Fire School Expansion to Proceed

A major expansion of the Los Angeles County fire training school in Val Verde cleared its first hurdle Tuesday before the Board of Supervisors.

The board approved hiring an architect to design the school, which is expected to expand onto 160 acres surrounding the existing facility. The plans and a budget must be approved later this year before construction can begin.

The fire school was originally built by Unocal Corp. and turned over to the county in 1958. County fire officials say it has become increasingly inadequate as their jobs have become more complex.

Surrounding land was purchased by the county in 1986 in anticipation of a future expansion.

Annually, the school now offers about 2,500 county firefighters training in extinguishing flammable liquids, such as gasoline. The expansion will allow classes in urban search-and-rescue operations and how to handle hazardous waste accidents. Deputy Fire Chief Paul Blackburn said that colored water and inert gasses will be used to simulate hazardous substances at the site.