Miranda Pederson/Daily News Natahn Hodges, president of the Bowling Green Technical College, speaks during Friday's Bowling Green Technical College and Kentucky Fire Commission Fire Rescue Training Facility ribbon cutting and open house.

Firefighters and other first responders in the region have a new place to train.

The Regional Fire/Rescue Training Center, situated on Morgantown Road at the campus of Bowling Green Technical College and next to the Bowling Green Fire Department’s Westside substation, was dedicated Friday.

Officials from BGTC and the Kentucky Fire Commission, which operates under the umbrella of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System, were on hand for the ceremonial ribbon cutting, as were several local firefighters.

The 6,750-square-foot, $830,000 facility will be used for tailored programs and training for firefighters, EMS and law enforcement personnel in the Kentucky Fire Commission’s Area 4, comprised of Warren and nine other counties.

“This is a facility that we have planned for and waited for for many years,” said BGTC President Nathan Hodges.

During fiscal year 2009-10, more than 8,400 student training contacts were provided to about 1,000 firefighters in 69 municipal and volunteer fire departments in Area 4.

Hodges said the facility is in an ideal location, given the state technical college system’s partnership with the state fire commission.

The facility is open to any first responder agency in Area 4. Training sessions there will be coordinated by Bill Carver, state fire/rescue training coordinator for Area 4.

“We’re glad to have the additional facility for us to train with,” said Chief Greg Johnson of the Bowling Green Fire Department.

Ronnie Day, executive director of the state fire commission, said the commission owns five training facilities, but the one dedicated Friday is the only one on a college campus.

BGTC offers a degree in fire/rescue training, and university and fire officials look at the training center as a natural fit for the campus.

“We’re looking to put other (training centers) on campuses because this is where they need to be,” Day said.

Funding for the project was part of the total budget approved for the state fire commission by the General Assembly. The commission’s board of directors allocated the money for the training center, Hodges said.

State Rep. Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green, was recognized Friday for his efforts in helping the facility get off the ground and through the planning stages.

“Because of this facility and because of the training our emergency responders will get here and across the state, we are safer and our property is safer,” Richards said.