Government
BY ETHAN THOMAS
City invests $4.2M in re training facility
Project update
The NBFD, which provides re protection and emergency medical services to ESD 7, has already completed preliminary phases of construction for the facility, according to agenda documents. The second and nal phase—expected to cost about $4.2 million —will be fully funded by ESD 7 under the agreement. O cials hope to break ground during scal year 2026-27, with an expected construction timeline of about a year. The nal phase of the training facility will replicate real-world re scenarios re ghters may encounter across the city and within ESD 7, Lozano said. The site will feature a ve-story burn tower for live- re simulations, along with a two-story “mock city” environment that allows crews to practice navigating various emergency scenarios. An apparatus bay will support equipment storage and on-site training operations, Lozano said.
With a local training facility, the NBFD may be able to move into the higher end of that rating. Currently, New Braunfels re ghters must travel outside the city to access certi ed training facilities, which can strain sta ng levels and reduce coverage during training hours, New Braunfels Fire Chief Ruy Lozano said. “This is going to make it where we can train re ghters while on duty and not have to leave our response area,” he said.
Plans for a new certi ed re training facility are moving forward. New Braunfels City Council approved an interlocal agreement with Comal County to fund the facility’s nal phase on Jan. 12. The facility would be designed to meet Insurance Services O ce, or ISO standards. The New Braunfels Fire Department, or NBFD, holds an ISO Class 1 rating of 93.01. The rating operates on a points-based scale. ISO re protection ratings Meeting National Fire ghter Protection Association standards allows training hours to count toward ISO scoring, which can lower insurance premiums for residents within the service area. NBFD has scored consistently in rank 1.
306
New training facility
N
Insurance premium impact
Rating
Points
Description
Top-tier protection with career sta ng, advanced communications, rapid response times
Highest premium discount
1-2
100-80
In other news
Some premium discount
Strong protection supported by career or combination sta ng, reliable water supply, consistent training
3-4
79-60
ESD 7 is partnering with the city to improve emergency radio communications within the district. The agreement authorizes the district to fund a $2.5 million project aimed at strengthening radio coverage from the Lower Colorado River Authority, used by the NBFD, Lozano said.
Little to no discount
Average protection levels with mixed sta ng, partial hydrant coverage, variable response times
5-6
59-40
Limited protection due to volunteer sta ng, sparse infrastructure, longer response times
7-8
39-20
Some surcharges
Highest potential surcharges
Minimal or no recognized protection, inadequate water supply, limited resources
9-10
19-0
SOURCE: NEW BRAUNFELS FIRE DEPARTMENT COMMUNITY IMPACT
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