The Maine Maritime Academy has plans to soon break ground for a four-story fire training facility at the Center for Professional Mariner Development, reports bangordailynews.com. The aim is to allow mariners to practice fighting fires in ship-like conditions.
COVID-19 has delayed the project, but it was put out to bid this month and officials expect construction to be completed by the end of the year, the report says. The 3,500-square-foot facility should be ready for use at the start of 2023.
The building will be able to emulate growing and dying fires on a boat to meet mariner certification needs. The report notes that there is no other similar facility in eastern ME—possibly the entire state.