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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Heartland emergency responders will soon have the opportunity for new and improved training.

Fact Finder learned of a federal grant just under $200,000 to finish financing a new live-fire burn prop building.

Indian Hills' Bob Morrissey worked on the grant application and said they have been pursuing this for four or five years. Previously the training center received another grant of $271,000 from the state.

Morrissey told Fact Finder the new facility will become the Rural Emergency Training Center on Indian Hills Community College’s north campus in Ottumwa.

The Rural Emergency Training Center will greatly increase the accessibility and quality of training. Morrissey told Fact Finder local fire crews could previously only train one weekend per year borrowing equipment from Ames.

“Before they were pretty much limited to buildings that had to be burned down or whatever, but this can simulate multiple situations they have to overcome in their work,” Morrissey said.

The new facility will be utilized by 10 area counties, 55 area fire departments, and 54 EMS services.

After the live-fire burn prop building is complete, Morrissey said they will pursue funds to build and add skill pads that will provide better situational training for the firefighters.

The grant of $199,515 was provided by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.