Whitby’s First Fire Training Tower To Be Built

Located at Whitby Fire Headquarters (111 McKinney Drive), the four-storey facility will be designed to provide local firefighters with realistic, hands-on training in a safe and controlled environment. It is expected to open later this year.

The tower will be equipped with burn rooms and training props. It will be fuelled by liquid propane, allowing crews to simulate real-life fire scenarios. Firefighters can practice a range of skills, including high-rise firefighting, technical rescues, and search and rescue operations.

Whitby Fire and Emergency Services (WFES) also plans to use the tower to support public education programs in the future.

Quotes

As our town continues to grow, so does the need to invest in the safety and well-being of our community. This new, state-of-the-art fire training tower is a major step forward in ensuring that Whitby Fire and Emergency Services has the tools and training needed to respond effectively in any situation. It’s an investment in our firefighters, our residents, and the future of our community.

- Elizabeth Roy, Mayor, Town of Whitby

Training is the cornerstone to ensure our department is prepared to meet the ever-changing needs of our growing community. This multi-level modern training tower will provide our firefighters with an opportunity to master their skills in a safe and controlled environment, under realistic conditions. We would like to thank the Mayor, Council and citizens for ensuring WFES has the tools required to keep our community safe.

- Mike Tucker, Deputy Chief – Operations, Whitby Fire and Emergency Services

Quick Facts

• One side of the fire tower will be designed to model a two-storey home, while other sides will be modelled to represent the downtown core, a high-rise, and an industrial setting.
• When not engaged in emergency response, Whitby Fire crews engage in training drills, equipment maintenance, and public education.
• Live‑fire exercises are part of WFES onboarding and continuous practice.
• Whitby Fire also practices regular training on fire behaviour, rescue techniques, equipment use, and handling hazardous materials.

More Information

For more information on Whitby Fire and Emergency Services, visit whitby.ca/Fire.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Erin Mikaluk, Manager, Communications and Creative Services, Town of Whitby
Phone: 289.314.6913
Email: mikaluke@whitby.ca