DAPHNE, Ala.—The Daphne Fire Department approached the city to borrow $600,000 to pay for a new training facility, equipment and the fire department’s share of a new fire truck.

The department’s most immediate need, however, is $375,000 to build a training facility. The new training facility will save the department money normally spent sending new members of the force to neighboring cities for training. The fire department has also begun the process to be a training facility affiliated with the Alabama Fire College, which will bring additional revenue into the city.

Trainees coming into Daphne will have to pay for the training as well as generate revenue through hotel rooms and food purchased in the city.

Representatives from the fire department told the finance committee that the department had plans in place to pay off the loan within five years, but needed at least $375,000 soon to begin construction on the new training facility.

The fire department currently uses a fire tower, which requires new tile to be placed on each floor every two, or three years, which costs $50,000 each floor.

“The new style of training facility we are trying to get does not require the tiles. It is part of the things with the state to get this training going,” a representative from the fire department said.

“I really don’t have a problem with this, in fact, this is one of the better relationships we have for a loan. You have a guaranteed revenue source and the city will directly benefit from it,” council member Derek Boulware said.

The finance committee recommended the city council appropriates the funds.