Congresswoman Simon Secures Federal Funding for East Bay Regional Fire Training Facility to Keep Region Prepared and Safe

BERKELEY, CA - Congresswoman Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12) recently secured $500,000 in Community Project Funding (CPF) for the construction of the East Bay Regional Fire Training Facility. This funding will go to the Cities of Berkeley and Albany to support the construction of a new facility that will serve Northern Alameda and Western Contra Costa counties and help establish a well-trained and resourced emergency-responder workforce. The East Bay Regional Fire Training Facility will be a central hub for the recruitment and training of first responders who will work to mitigate the impacts of both acute emergencies and fire disasters across the East Bay.

Yesterday, she announced the funding with the mayors and fire chiefs of Berkeley and Albany and toured an existing fire training facility in Berkeley to highlight how this federal funding will help shape and level up the future of fire preparedness, workforce training, and emergency response in the East Bay.

This Community Project Funding (CPF) is a part of the $11.2 million dollars that Congresswoman Simon secured for 15 projects across the East Bay. Each fiscal year, members of Congress can submit Community Project Funding requests for consideration with the House Committee on Appropriations. You can read about the 15 projects that Congresswoman Simon secured funding for in her first year here.

"Nothing is more important than the health and safety of those who call the East Bay home, which is why I fought to secure funding for the East Bay Regional Fire Training Facility," said Congresswoman Simon. "I look forward to working with the Cities of Berkeley and Albany to ensure our region can ramp up emergency responder training and that our communities are equipped and supported to handle fires and other emergencies."

"This investment ensures that Berkeley and the East Bay can modernize our emergency response infrastructure to meet the full scope of challenges we face today." said Berkeley Mayor Adena Ishii. "Our firefighters respond not only to fires, but to medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, earthquakes, and more, yet the training systems they rely on have not kept pace. I'm grateful to Congresswoman Simon for her leadership and advocacy in securing this critical funding, which will strengthen our preparedness and better protect our communities."

"Emergencies do not stop at city borders, which makes teamwork essential to both preparedness and response. The culture of collaboration built by Albany, Berkeley, and our regional partners has made every city stronger and safer." said Albany Mayor Peggy McQuaid. "We are grateful to Congresswoman Simon for her leadership in recognizing the importance of regional partnerships and advocating for this funding. This investment in expanded permanent regional training capacity strengthens our ability to deliver a coordinated, effective response-something our communities expect and deserve."

"This investment helps us begin building that capability locally and regionally," said Berkeley Fire Chief David Sprague. "It gives us the opportunity to train firefighters the way they actually work: side by side, across agencies, under pressure, and with the equipment they use in the field."

"Training is how we prepare for the call we hope never comes: the major earthquake, the fast-moving wildfire, the complex rescue, or the human-caused emergency that tests every part of the system. It is also how we prepare for the calls that come every day, including medical emergencies, fires, vehicle accidents, and rescues." said Albany Fire Chief Timothy Smyser. "For too long, East Bay firefighters have relied on mobile props, shared resources, and long travel to other facilities to get essential training. This funding helps us train together locally, the same way we respond together in the field. It strengthens coordination, improves safety, and helps ensure our firefighters are ready before the emergency happens."

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