Sydney firefighting trainees go west

Sydney firefighting trainees are going west, as their bosses eye off a site three times bigger than their current base, and capable of hosting live burns.

Final negotiations are underway to shift the Fire & Rescue NSW Academy from Alexandria, in Sydney's inner-west, to a six-hectare site at Erskine Park, about 56km further out of town.

"While the Alexandria training college has served us well, we have outgrown that site and now look forward to all the benefits this new, larger facility will offer our firefighters," FRNSW commissioner Greg Mullins said on Monday.

The new training base will house purpose-built props to simulate emergencies and allow for activities not possible at Alexandria, including live burns, Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said.

While planning and development details are still being ironed out, the academy is expected to be up and running by the end of next year.