CHAIRMAN’S COLUMN FOR 4/26/2018 REGISTER STAR
NEW FIRE TRAINING CENTER
It’s been some time in coming, but I am happy to be able to say that the new Columbia County fire training center approaches the realization of its full potential.
While a centralized, comprehensive training center had been on the minds of many for quite some time, the commitment to the effort ramped up with the sale of the Pine Haven nursing home in Philmont, where the fire tower had previously been located. The Space Utilization Committee was convened and the search was on.
Eventually, the committee’s search led it to 10 acres of land and a 10,000-square-foot building located at 50 Grandinetti Drive in Commerce Park, Ghent. Currently the building is an insulated shell, and houses some trucks and miscellaneous equipment. In the near future, the building will be completed and ultimately house the Fire Coordinator’s Office and other offices, as well as classrooms for training purposes. These classrooms will also be available for use by other county agencies.
If all goes according to plan, the final construction on the building will take place later this summer, with the finishing touches complete by next winter.
I would like to thank Bill Wallace of Wallace Architecture in Canaan, and Dave Crawford of Crawford & Associates in Hudson, for their assistance in helping achieve the maximum space usage for the new facility, and the county facilities department for its involvement.
Given a large county such as ours, the importance of a single, centrally located facility can’t be overestimated. Why is this so important? In the past, various apparatus, including the hazardous material vehicle and an EMS truck, has been stored at different sites around the county -- in some cases, emergency responders didn’t have immediate access to the building, which could lead to delays. Further, in addition to the training facilities, the new center will also house the 911 backup system.
With training requirements having become such a large part of a modern firefighter’s existence, the scramble within local departments to locate suitable classroom space will no longer be an issue.
Speaking of firefighters, we are extremely fortunate in Columbia County to enjoy the service of volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to keeping our community safe. Volunteers, who form the backbone of our fire companies, these days undergo rigorous training designed to increase their knowledge of firefighting techniques and maintain proper personal safety procedures.
There’s no reason to kid anyone – there’s a lot to being a volunteer firefighter, but those involved find their service extremely rewarding, and frequently are in for life. All Columbia County fire departments are constantly on the lookout for new members, and would welcome a call from anyone wishing to volunteer.