The Sterling and Rock Falls fire departments have been awarded an $825,000 federal grant to construct a regional fire training tower. This initiative comes in response to the tragic 2021 line-of-duty death of Sterling Lt. Garrett Ramos. The planned facility will provide realistic, scenario-based training to better prepare firefighters for emergencies. Officials say the tower will enhance safety and effectiveness across the region.
Construction is set to begin later this year, with the site located in the Rock Falls industrial park. The new training center aims to honor Lt. Ramos’s legacy while strengthening local firefighting capabilities.