LEXINGTON, Ky. — Blue Grass Airport opened a newly expanded aircraft rescue and firefighting training facility Thursday, marking a $4.8 million investment in one of the nation's premier aviation fire safety centers, according to a statement from the airport.

The 4,200 square-foot expansion of the Regional Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting (ARFF) Training Center modernizes classroom and training areas while adding new spaces for equipment storage, apparatus maintenance and firefighter gear cleaning. The enlarged classroom now accommodates up to 30 participants, compared to previous capacity constraints, and features updated technology in a more comfortable learning environment.

"This investment reflects the commitment of the FAA and Blue Grass Airport to delivering excellent training while ensuring participants have the facilities necessary to learn and collaborate," said Eric Frankl, president and CEO of Blue Grass Airport.

The facility, one of only 12 airport-operated training centers in the United States, annually hosts more than 1,000 firefighters representing more than 125 public safety departments from over 30 states and several Canadian provinces. Established in 1997 and designated by the Federal Aviation Administration as a regional training site, the center offers basic and advanced ARFF training for professionals nationwide.

The expansion builds on equipment upgrades completed in 2024, which included training simulators modeled after a Boeing 737, Airbus A320 and a 30-foot-long UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter. These simulators expanded the center's ability to offer a broader range of aircraft emergency scenarios and instruction methods.

Blue Grass Airport, located six miles west of downtown Lexington, serves as the primary airport for central and eastern Kentucky and generated an annual economic impact of $370 million to the region in recent years. The airport recorded 1.6 million passengers in 2025, an all-time record.

Information on training courses can be found at www.bluegrassairport.com/training.