Just as soon as the ground thaws, construction is expected to begin on a police and fire training complex - made possible because of the Bismarck City Commission's Tuesdayapproval of the project's first phase.

Construction should take about six to eight months, said Jeff Ubl, president of Tvenge Associates, who presented the project's master plan to the council.

"We're excited,"said Bismarck Police Chief Deb Ness on Tuesday.

Ness said police and fire officials had been talking about creating a collaborative training center even before Sept. 11, when the need for collaborative and joint training between police and fire officials became even more apparent.

The first phase will cost $815,750, covered by a federal grant that will pay for several improvements on city-owned land just southeast of the city landfill. Planned are a firing range, an extension to 66th Street, which is currently just a section-line road on the east side of the property, creation of a gravel parking lot and security fencing.

Currently, Bismarck police have limited use, mainly in the summer, of the Glencoe shooting range, which is located several miles south of Bismarck.

The first phase won't help local fire departments. Their training needs, the major one being a building where live burns can be simulated, will be accomplished in the project's second phase, which is expected to cost $5.4 million and include, in addition to the fire simulation building, a 3,200-square-foot classroom building, about 30 acres of fencing around the entire property, an expanded firing range, a paved parking lot and other improvements.

There is currently no money for the second phase, but police and fire officials have been given the go-ahead to pursue federal and other sources of funding, Ness said.

Bismarck Fire Chief Joel Boespflug told the council he hopes the second phase can become reality soon.

Boespflug told the Tribune the department doesn't have any training facilities to give new rookie firefighters a safe and controlled live-burn experience.

He said he has been pleased with the caliber of new recruits but wants to provide them with live-burn training so they can feel safer, more comfortable and more competent. He recalled one incident when a brand-new firefighter's first experience with live fire was a house fire with two people trapped inside.

He said veteran firefighters also needed periodic training to keep on top of their skills.

(Reach reporter Virginia Grantier 250-8254 or at virginia.grantier@;bismarcktribune.com.)