Release date: 11 July 2023
West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service reached a huge milestone when its new state-of-the-art training centre and fire station became operational yesterday (10 July).
The multi-million-pound site commissioned by West Sussex County Council, is the first of its type in the county.
Named Platinum House, it replaces the previous fire station in Hurst Road, which was built in 1968.
The first call that Horsham firefighters responded to was a fire involving a hedgerow and undergrowth at Strood Lane, Warnham.
Leader of West Sussex County Council, Paul Marshall, said: “The purpose-built training centre and fire station represents significant investment from the county council, and the site has been designed to keep firefighters safe and prepared for incidents of any scale for many decades to come.
“Making the best use of resources is a key priority within our Council Plan, and I am delighted that West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service has the best possible facilities to help keep those that live, work and visit West Sussex safer.”
Construction at the site began in November 2021, and the training centre has been designed to support the county council’s aims to become carbon neutral with features including:
- a live fire training facility that emits smoke back into the environment as clean air
- solar panels and electric vehicle charging points
- air source heat pumps that provide heating.
Chief Fire Officer, Sabrina Cohen-Hatton, said: “Platinum House becoming operational marks the start of a new era for West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.
“The site has completely modernised the way in which we train our existing and future fighters. It’s enabled us to simulate more than 50 different emergency situations, so our firefighters can prepare and train to respond to a greater range of scenarios without having to travel outside West Sussex.
“The facilities have been built with a core focus on health, safety and wellbeing, and these requirements mean the site will be fit-for-purpose for future generations of firefighters.”
