MCFR honors former firefighters with new training facility
Morgan County Fire Rescue held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 1 to celebrate the opening of its new Eddy-McGlauchlen-Arnold Fire Training Academy.
The academy, located at 1640 Mission Road, was named in honor of the late Chris Eddy, Chris McGlauchlen, and Keith Arnold, all of whom served the department as career firefighters and volunteers. Family members of the three men were given the honor of cutting the ribbon during the ceremony.
The facility's address will soon change to 1614 Mission Road in memory of Eddy, who was killed in the line of duty while serving Greene County in 2024. The number 1614 was Eddy's accountability number during his time as a full-time firefighter with Morgan County Fire Rescue.
MCFR Administrative Assistant Cindy Williams said the department has spent the past six months preparing the academy following the Morgan County Board of Commissioners' approval of funding for the project in December.
The funding will also allow the department to reopen the fire station at the site while housing the new training academy in the same facility.
"This actually started coming together around December of last year when we knew the funding was going to be available," Williams said. "It's taken about six months from getting the funding to doing the research, making site visits, and even doing some manual labor."
Williams said the project stemmed from a long-term vision of MCFR Chief Garret Smith, who identified the need for an upgraded training facility before taking the position.
"Chief Smith kind of had the vision, and it's one of those things that when he was doing his research before he would apply for the position, he knew that our training facility needed to be updated," Williams said.
She added that Smith considered it important for the families of Eddy, McGlauchlen, and Arnold to play a role in the ceremony.
"It was paramount for him to have the families there," Williams said. "Before we announced when it was going to be, he had me determine that their family members were going to be able to participate."
According to Williams, more than 50 people attended the ribbon-cutting, including local government officials and firefighters from neighboring counties. She said the department was pleased with the turnout and community support.
MCFR Training Capt. Nik Cooper said reopening the fire station alongside the training academy will provide both operational and educational benefits.
He noted that the building's current tenant, which provides services to victims and law enforcement in investigations, is relocating.
"They're in that moving process now, but once they get out, I will be over there," Cooper said. "That station will run as the training headquarters for Morgan County Fire Rescue as well as an active staff station for 911 response."
Cooper said reopening the station and establishing a dedicated training academy are critical steps for the department's future.
He said the academy will ease the burden on personnel who currently balance training responsibilities with other duties.
"This resource is instrumental in this department moving forward and becoming the best that we can be," Cooper said. "The investment into a standalone training facility — it can't be put into words how valuable that is to a public safety organization."