Kitsap County Emergency Services Readiness Complex
FACT SHEET
What is the Kitsap Readiness Complex?
The Kitsap Readiness Complex is a state-of-the-art facility that includes classroom spaces, a live-fire and flooding training building, seven outdoor firefighting props, and an outdoor damage control prop. The combination live-fire and flooding training building can burn and flood simultaneously and is the only known training facility of its kind.
Who are the partners in the Kitsap Readiness Consortium
Bremerton Fire Department
Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue
Kitsap County Central Communications (Cencom)
Kitsap County Sheriff
Olympic College Readiness Response Institute
South Kitsap Fire & Rescue
Army National Guard.
How did the Olympic College Readiness Response Institute come about?
In the mid-1990s, local fire departments started looking for a permanent location in which to train staff in fire fighting. A few years later, the US Navy approached Olympic College to train personnel in fire fighting and needed similar props for hands-on training sessions. As a result, the Joint Management Group was formed. This group lobbied for state and federal funds for construction of half of the new Bremerton Readiness Center. The Readiness Response Institute side of the facility is managed by Olympic College. The other half of the center is operated and paid for by the Army National Guard. Usage fees paid to the Joint Management Group pays for building maintenance and operations.
When was the Kitsap Readiness Complex constructed?
Construction began in 2003 and was completed in the spring of 2005.
What is the purpose of the Olympic College Readiness Response Institute?
The Olympic College Readiness Response Institute provides certified firefighting, damage control and hazardous material handling training to the military, the Washington State Ferry System, private industry and the public at the Kitsap Readiness Complex. Training offered includes onsite and online training. The Readiness Response Institute is certified by the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, the Community and College Consortium for Health and Safety Training, and the Hazardous Materials Training Institute.
Who does the Readiness Response Institute serve?
The Readiness Response Institute offers its training to the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, the Washington State Ferry System, private industry, city and county agencies, and private citizens.
Why the Readiness Response Institute is important?
The Readiness Response Institute trains personnel in federal, state and local organizations to respond to events such as fires, flooding, natural disasters and homeland security threats. These personnel are the first people on a scene and their actions mitigate damage and injury in the case of fire, chemical spills or other potential disasters.
Who manages the Readiness Response Institute?
Larry Akers is the Director of the Readiness Response Institute. Larry was hired as a consultant in 2000 to get the Olympic College training program at the Readiness Complex up and running. His work efforts eventually demonstrated the necessity for creation of full time position. The program offerings have grown during the past four years, and could potentially grow due to the large classroom capacity in the new Readiness Center. The Olympic College Readiness Response Institute maintains a staff of three full-time and several part-time personnel.