GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Grand Rapids fire department broke ground Thursday on a multi-million-dollar investment for a new training facility.

For decades, GRFD's department has operated its training at a leased water development building off Monroe Avenue NW — a building Grand Rapids Fire Chief Brad Brown said has outlived its time.

News 8 got an exclusive tour with Brown of the current facility and its offerings.

"For the second biggest city in Michigan, this is about it," Brown told News 8 on the tour. "We make the best of it, and it has served us well, it has served this community well. "It's time, it's time to modernize and get some more square footage."

Brown said the current space does not have a proper water draining system.

"All winter we train here, so we are here doi

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