Life has a way of unfolding in unexpected ways. Every twist and turn adds to a growing collection of skills and lessons that don’t always make sense in the moment. But somehow, even when the road ahead is unclear, we keep moving forward—driven by something we can’t quite name. Then one day, those winding paths come together in the most remarkable way, revealing an opportunity that feels like it was meant just for us. That’s exactly how it played out for Chief Bill Jahnke and the world of fire training towers.
Fire in the Blood
Let’s rewind. Chief Bill Jahnke, founder of WHP Trainingtowers™, has had a long-standing relationship with fire—one that dates all the way back to his college years. It began in 1968 at Pittsburg State University, where he volunteered with the Crawford County rural fire department. Two years later, he returned home to Overland Park, KS, and continued serving as a volunteer firefighter. His commitment grew, and he eventually rose to become the fire chief of the Overland Park Fire Department, a position he held for 11 years until his retirement in 1997.
Beyond that, Jahnke also served as Director of the International Association of Fire Chiefs and was a member of the NFPA 1402 Committee, which oversees standards for fire training facilities and props. But firefighting is just one half of the story.
A Dual Path of Passion and Profession
Back in college, while volunteering with the fire department, Jahnke was also working in construction and earning his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Technology. Those two worlds—firefighting and construction management—ran side by side for decades. Then, during the development of the Overland Park Training Center, they finally intersected.
Jahnke was acting as general contractor on the fire training facility when he crossed paths with Bernie Padgett, a man who had founded a fire training tower company in 1980. At the time, Padgett was looking to retire, and when he learned that Jahnke had also recently retired from the fire service, the two started talking. The timing couldn’t have been better. With his rare combination of hands-on fire experience and construction expertise, Jahnke was perfectly positioned to take over. It was a seamless transition—and a brand-new chapter.
From Two Worlds, One Vision
Chief Jahnke brought something new to the industry: an insider’s understanding of both fire service demands and construction logistics. That combination allowed him to reimagine what fire training towers could, and should, be.
“When I first got into the business, I looked at the towers and thought, ‘We don’t fight fires with metal floors,’” Jahnke recalled. So one of the first changes was to replace those floors with concrete—closer to what firefighters encounter in real scenarios.
He also introduced a modular panel system that replicates materials like wood, brick, and concrete, so firefighters could safely practice ladder work. The towers’ roofs were revamped too. “Eighty percent of the roofs firefighters encounter are composite (shingled),” Jahnke explained. “So we got rid of the metal roofs, increased the roof pitch to better simulate the roofs firefighters typically see, and added chop-out holes so the firefighters could practice their ax skills.”
From stronger steel handrails and durable windows to reinforced plate-steel doors, every upgrade was designed to better reflect realistic situations and to make fire training towers more resilient. Under Jahnke’s leadership, WHP Trainingtowers™ became the gold standard in the industry.
Firefighter Safety Is Paramount
“Training was important to me because we didn’t fight fires every day,” Jahnke said. “When you’re in a dangerous job, on-the-job training is not the best way to learn. You want seasoned professionals with the experience to make the best decisions under extreme conditions. Our training towers provide that experience.”
The impact that WHP Trainingtowers™ has had on the fire training tower industry is hard to measure, but it has been immense. The innovations that have been incorporated over the last few decades have created stronger towers, safer training, and more realistic training scenarios for thousands of firefighters worldwide. “We always put safety first and try to create the most durable, long-lasting towers that will bring the best value to the industry,” said Executive Vice President of Operations, Joe Kirchner. Here are some examples of products that WHP Trainingtowers™ has introduced to increase safety and durability in the fire training industry.
Creating Stronger Towers
1998 – WHP Trainingtowers™ Sets the Industry Standard in Tower Strength
With the launch of a proprietary two-part framing system, WHP Trainingtowers™ established itself as the industry benchmark for quality and structural integrity. Our dual-frame towers are built on a fully galvanized structural steel frame reinforced with a secondary framing system of 12-gauge steel columns. That interior structure is covered in double corrugated cladding, which is hot-dipped in a galvanizing bath for rust and corrosion resistance. These structures meet the most stringent wind load and seismic requirements in the country.
2016 – MODx™ Training Towers Revolutionize the Industry
WHP Trainingtowers™ introduced the MODx™ tower, a modular steel-frame tower that redefined versatility. Built with a fully galvanized structural steel frame and no interior columns or beams, MODx™ allows for completely open floor plans. All walls, doors, and windows are adjustable—making every training session customizable. This innovative design combined strength and adaptability like never before.
2006 – Upgraded Rappelling Anchors
We enhanced safety and durability by upgrading to forged, hot-dipped galvanized swivel-style anchors, boosting strength and reliability for high-angle training exercises.
Creating More Resilient, Longer Lasting Fire Training Towers
2002 – Concrete Floors for Unmatched Durability
Understanding that firefighters train in environments that mimic real-world conditions, WHP Trainingtowers™ replaced metal floors with concrete throughout the entire structure. The result? Dramatically improved longevity and structural integrity.
2017 – Waterproof Concrete Floor Decks in Fire Training Towers
To extend the life of our fire training towers even further, we added a permanent waterproofing component to our concrete floor decks—helping reduce long-term maintenance and preserve training conditions in all types of weather.
2004 – Hot-Dipped Galvanized Steel Becomes Standard
Recognizing the long-term benefits, WHP Trainingtowers™ began using hot-dipped galvanized steel as a standard for stairs, railings, ladders, and other fabricated components. The result was a substantial increase in the lifespan of our towers and a significant reduction in maintenance needs.
2016 – Steel Plate Doors and Continuous Hinges
We replaced traditional hollow metal doors with ultra-durable plate steel doors, reinforced with continuous hinges. This upgrade provided better resistance to heavy use and harsh conditions while keeping maintenance to a minimum.
2020 – Padgenite Interlock™ System
Our Padgenite Interlock™ system was designed to add a layer of thermal insulation and increase burn room longevity. By attaching the panels to metal mounting channels, we created an insulating air gap between the panel and the building, reducing heat transfer and increasing building lifespan.
Creating Realistic Training Scenarios
2002 – Padgenite Super HD™ Thermal Lining System
This proprietary innovation set a new bar for burn room realism. Padgenite Super HD™ is the highest-density board available, delivering unmatched consistency and durability—helping simulate real fire conditions more accurately and safely.
2004 – Reinforced, Operable Shutters
WHP Trainingtowers™ redesigned tower shutters to double the steel thickness and included hardware operable from both inside and outside the structure, enhancing realism and usability during live-fire scenarios.
2007 – Trackless Maze System for Customizable Fire Training Towers
By removing ceiling tracks, our maze system became fully flexible and customizable—turning the entire interior of the structure into a dynamic training environment. Trainers can reconfigure mazes quickly to simulate a wide variety of rescue and search conditions.
Making Hazmat Training Mobile
2009 – First Fully Integrated Hazmat Training Facility
WHP Trainingtowers™ broke new ground with the design and construction of a fully integrated hazardous materials training facility for the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Our team also created over a dozen specialized hazmat props to simulate real-world scenarios for hazardous materials response.
2020 – Hazmat Instructor Series™ Training Trailer
We are dedicated to providing realistic, customizable, and affordable hazmat training solutions, so we didn’t stop at hazmat props. We took hazmat training on the road with the launch of our Hazmat Instructor Series™ Trailer. This self-contained mobile unit comes fully plumbed and wired for a wide array of training props, including leaking drums, 1-ton chlorine cylinders, smoke machines, and more. Our wireless portable control system gives instructors complete control over every training element, delivering high-impact, on-the-go hazmat training anywhere.
Global Presence
Today, WHP Trainingtowers has more than 1,000 towers in operation around the world—from Canada and Italy to Germany, Asia, and the Middle East. We are the most widely used pre-engineered metal fire training tower company in the world. This global dominance is due to our unwavering dedication to quality, and continual innovation in firefighting equipment. As a testament to our towers’ durability, our first tower, built in 1980 in Kotzebue, Alaska, is still in use today – 45 years later!
As WHP Trainingtowers™ celebrates 45 years in business, Chief Jahnke has eased into retirement, entrusting the company’s daily operations to his children, Maggie Scaletty and Steve Jahnke. Though he may be stepping back, his influence remains front and center, and his legacy will continue, one fire training tower at a time.
Visit our website to learn more about our innovative products, turnkey solutions, and amazing customer service. Our training towers are designed by firefighters and engineers specifically for fire training. To learn more, call 1-800-351-2525 or contact us online.
