The modern training facilities required for frontline firefighters

To ensure crews can respond effectively, modern training facilities must deliver flexible, realistic, and safe environments that prepare firefighters for situations they may never have encountered before.

Moving beyond traditional burn buildings

For decades, firefighter training was centred around fixed-location facilities, often using class A burn materials or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). These provided a controlled way of simulating fire but they came with limitations. Today’s incidents are rarely predictable, and crews need to adapt quickly to rapidly changing conditions.

This has led to a move towards training centres that replicate advanced scenarios, including high-rise buildings and electrical faults, two of the most pressing risks for UK fire and rescue services. By recreating environments where conditions can change in real time, these facilities give firefighters the chance to test decision-making, technical skills, and teamwork under pressure.

Designing for flexibility

Flexibility is now a defining characteristic of modern fire training facilities. Instead of being static, these spaces are designed to be reconfigurable and adaptable. Depending on geography and local risk profiles, different scenarios can be prioritised.

In port towns, facilities may simulate shipboard fires with portholes built into the structure. Elsewhere, training might focus on aircraft layouts or rural incidents such as agricultural and woodland fires. This adaptability ensures that training remains relevant to the most likely challenges in each area.

Meeting the physical demands

Training environments place enormous demands on both firefighters and instructors. Temperatures in controlled burns can reach up to 600°C, with multiple sessions often delivered each day.

Designing facilities that can withstand such heavy use while remaining safe and effective is a significant architectural and engineering challenge.

Occupational health also plays a vital role in facility design. Carcinogen exposure remains a concern, so modern centres often incorporate advanced smoke filtration systems to reduce risks.

Cleaner training exercise, using non-toxic methods, are increasingly being adopted. These provide flexible, lower-cost opportunities for skill development without environmental or health impacts, though they work best when combined with live-fire training to maintain realism.

Responding to new and emerging risks

Another driver of change in recent years has been the rise of new fire risks. Lithium-ion battery fires from e-bikes and e-scooters, for example, are a growing concern. The London Fire Brigade recorded 165 such fires in 2025 by late September, with the figure on course to hit record levels. These incidents are unpredictable and dangerous, requiring specialist response strategies.

Road traffic collisions are also placing greater demands on firefighters. At a recent training facility in Essex, we included an area for RTC and heavy rescue operations, allowing crews to practise extrication techniques in realistic highway conditions. Expanding facilities in this way ensures that training covers the full spectrum of emergencies faced by today’s fire and rescue services.

Building facilities for the future

Modern fire training facilities focus on more than technical drills. They build confidence, adaptability, and resilience, preparing firefighters for the unexpected. By providing flexible, safe, and realistic environments, these spaces ensure crews are ready to meet today’s risks while also anticipating those that may emerge in the future.

As the demands on fire and rescue services continue to grow, investment in state-of-the-art training environments is essential. From tackling the rise in battery-related fires to managing increasingly complex rescue operations, these facilities are the foundation of firefighter readiness and ultimately, the safety of communities across the UK.

At Pick Everard, our design and management teams have supported clients across the fire and rescue service, including the development of headquarters, fire stations, training facilities, control centres and staff accommodation. Get in touch today to see how we can help you.