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Build It and They Will Come, Fire Training Site Organizers Say

Posted on: Friday, 24 March 2006, 06:00 CST

By Anne Danahy, The Centre Daily Times, State College, Pa.

Mar. 24--BELLEFONTE -- Organizers of Centre County's fire training site hope that by showing the governor how much neighboring counties will value the facility, they'll convince him to put more money behind the project.

If fully realized, the entire Fire and Emergency Services Training Site would cost an estimated $10 million. Tim Schreffler, chairman of the site committee, said the project has $3.8 million in financial backing.

Gov. Ed Rendell could release as much as $2 million that is in the state capital budget. So far, the state has not been willing to release the money, saying it is funding only projects that promote job growth.

But project supporters say proper training for firefighters and emergency workers is crucial and worthy of state support. They say the facility is needed in Centre County and surrounding areas. Contamination led to the closure of the Penn State fire training site in 1997.

"It is so important to maintain the integrity of training and provide the realism necessary for firefighters to work safely," Schreffler said. "We can only train so much in a parking lot."

County Commissioner Chris Exarchos said Rendell expressed reluctance to release the $2 million unless the project is a regional effort that extends beyond the county.

So, Commissioner Scott Conklin said, letters of support will be collected from neighboring counties to show Rendell the project deserves financial backing.

"What we need is the support of the surrounding counties, and we can then make it a regional facility," Conklin said.

Schreffler said the additional funding would mean completing the first three phases of the project together rather than having to space them out. The first phase is development of the 18-acre site in Spring Township.

The next phases include an outdoor classroom and a 75-foot tower to practice battling high-rise fires. Other phases would follow, including an administrative building with classrooms and more emergency-training props.

"We do not anticipate this being a site that's going to generate jobs," Schreffler said. "What we do see on the positive side is how it's going to increase the capacity for growth in the area by training the firefighters."

At least one neighboring county seems ready to offer its support. Barry W. Wright, chairman of the Blair County Board of Commissioners, said he had not yet received the request for support but would see no reason not to back the project.

"I don't think there's anything more important than the training of all the firefighters in regard to saving people's lives and their own lives," Wright said.

Anne Danahy can be reached at 231-4648.

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Centre Daily Times, State College, Pa.

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Source: Centre Daily Times (State College, Pa.)

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