After 30+ Years of Service, Potter Crafts a Facility to Train the Next Generation
Excelsior Springs, Mo. – On December 18, 2023, the Excelsior Springs City Council approved plans for a comprehensive training facility for the Excelsior Springs Fire Department (ESFD). Today, that vision is becoming a reality, thanks in large part to the ESFD’s Assistant Chief of Training John Potter and his unwavering dedication to both the department and the community.
Now celebrating his 31st year with the department, Potter took on the role of engineer for the new training grounds. Although the facility isn’t fully complete, it’s already in use by local firefighters.
Constructed using 11 Conex shipping containers, the facility features a wide range of training scenarios. Potter shared that each area was designed with a purpose:
- Forcible entry training using one 350 lb. door and one 400 lb. door
- Simulated apartment and home layouts—including bathrooms, living areas, and bedrooms—all fully furnished
- Attic access and roofline training
- Truss and ventilation system practice
- Controlled fire zones with temperatures reaching up to 900 degrees
- Simulated fire scenarios for varied response training
- Overhaul and fire extension exercises
- Six-story high-rise rescue training, complete with rope rescue and window simulation
- Commercial building layouts
- Tight-space crawl training, including scenarios with and without electrical lines
- Window breach and sprinkler system drills
- Hose line setup and coordination zones
“Last time I counted, there were 47 different training features within the building so far,” Potter said. He’s been working toward completion “six to seven days a week, sometimes up to 14 hours a day.”
Every part of the facility has been built with durability in mind. Potter added reinforcement throughout the structure, joking that if anyone could break it, it would be “a fireman.”
The training building cost just $200,000 to create—a fraction of the original $1.4 million estimated by outside companies. According to Potter, some bids came in at $1 million just to place the buildings, with an additional $400,000 to build out rooms and training props.
With the facility already partially in use, Potter plans to continue refining the interior by:
- Completing painting
- Adding final training props
- Developing inspection and usage guidelines
Before allowing outside departments to use the facility, Potter wants everything fully operational and up to ESFD standards. While there’s no set “grand opening” date, he noted that the site is already functional and will continue to improve over time.
Once completed, the facility will be available to other area departments for regional training, including those from Kearney, Lawson, Wood Heights, and the Fishing River area. Potter emphasized affordability, noting that while other training centers charge up to $1,800 per day, he hopes to offer use of the ESFD facility at a lower rate.
“Smaller departments have small training budgets,” Potter said. “I don’t feel right telling a department they can’t train because of budgetary reasons.”
ESFD Fire Chief Joe Maddick praised Assistant Chief Potter’s craftsmanship and dedication, calling them instrumental to the project’s success. He said Potter’s hands-on approach is evident in every aspect of the facility.
Although personnel have helped with various tasks such as lifting and providing support, Maddick noted, Potter’s vision and hands on approach to the design and building process, “have truly brought the facility to life,” he said, “with the introduction of this new training facility, the impact on our firefighters will be nothing short of transformative. No longer will they need to travel long distances for specialized training; instead, they will have immediate access to advanced resources and learning opportunities right here in Excelsior Springs.”
Also, Maddick believes the investment in the facility reaches beyond the firefighting staff, as it will improve proficiency and preparedness for all emergency responders. Ultimately, this resulted in a “safer community for all residents,” he said. “Citizens of Excelsior Springs can take comfort in knowing that their firefighters are receiving the best training possible, ensuring quick, effective responses to any crisis that may arise.”
If you appreciate the value our local journalism brings to the community, please consider making a recurring contribution to the Excelsior Citizen!
