ST. MARY PARISH — Franklin firefighters have seen a significant improvement in their fire rating, moving from a Class 6 in 2020 to a Class 4 in 2025. A key factor in this jump is the department’s new training facility, built on a long-unused baseball field that hadn’t hosted an event in more than 30 years.

“We realized we had a deficit of getting adequate training for our firemen, being we had no facility in a reasonable distance,” said Justin Martin, assistant fire chief for the Franklin Fire Department.

Before the facility existed, firefighters traveled to Baton Rouge or New Iberia to complete essential training. The new facility, completed in October 2024, allows crews to train within the city and remain in service for emergency calls.

“Now that this is here, built here. We can do al

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