Area cities prioritize public safety, re training opportunities From the cover
Training locations
Leander
Two-minute impact
Costing $550,000, the renovations to the Lean- der Fire Department training tower include three new prop stations for re training that will burn with propane gas rather than burning hay. Wusterhausen said the gas is much quicker to prepare and allows for more training cycles in less time. The gas props are also healthier for re ghters, who have a higher risk of developing cancer because they are often exposed to carcinogens produced in materials being burned, Wusterhau- sen said. Further, the gas will provide a cleaner burn, producing less black smoke and odors. Wusterhausen said the new props have already been installed, and all that was left as of late July was installing the gas. “Our residents expect us to show up and per- form at a high level, and I think [the renovations] are just going to make that even more possible,” said Leander Fire Captain Brad Moore.
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As area cities continue to see population increases, local public safety o cials said they recognize the need for additional training opportunities. Cedar Park’s $30 million public safety training facility has been under design since mid-2023. The facility, which will serve as a centralized hub for all re, police and EMS training activities, is expected to open in 2026, o cials said. “Being able to train together, communicate together, all under the same roof, will increase the e ciency in all of our public safety services here in the city of Cedar Park,” Assistant Police Chief Bryan Wukasch said. Liberty Hill leaders also have plans for a public safety training facility but have not yet secured land. In an email to Community Impact , City Manager Paul Brandenburg said the facility is “just a dream at this point.” However, the Williamson County Emergency Services District No. 4—the district the Liberty Hill Fire Department falls under—recently acquired the former Main Street Social building downtown, which will be repurposed as a re administration facility and help increase training opportunities in the short-term, Fire Chief Anthony Lincoln said. The Leander Fire Department’s training props— mock setups that provide the re ghters a space to practice real rescue mission scenarios— inside the department’s re ghter training tower are worn out and being replaced, Wusterhausen said. Representatives from each city said they hope the plans and renovations taking place on their facilities set them up to better serve the community for years to come. Continue reading to learn more about plans in each city.
Leander
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1 Leander Fire Department training facility Status: Renovations in progress Description: Located at Leander Fire Station No. 3, the re ghter training tower is undergoing renovations to install new gas-burning props.
Cedar Park
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183A TOLL
KENT LN.
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2 New public safety training facility Status: In design Description: This joint facility will house various training activities for re, police and other emergency responders.
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Liberty Hill
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3 Williamson County ESD No. 4 campus Status: Building acquired, renovation plans expected in September or October Description: This building will house the Liberty Hill Fire Department’s administration team and be used for some training purposes.
The training tower allows re ghters to practice real- world burn scenarios, such as cutting through a roof to access residents inside.
SOURCES: CITY OF CEDAR PARK, LEANDER FIRE DEPARTMENT, LIBERTY HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT
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