06/09/2026
🚨Training Ground Announcement!🚨
It has been a while since we have updated our followers on the progress we have made with our training facility. We have been busy testing, hiring, training, and working on the training ground. Since our last update where we placed the first 5 shipping containers, we have since completed the build out of this building.
“Building 1” as we will call if for now, has been purpose built to simulate a 3 bedroom, 2 story (for now), single family dwelling. This building will be kept “clean” in that we will not burn in it so that firefighters can train on shift, without being exposed to products of combustion and tracking said contaminants in and out of apparatus etc, while still being available for calls. This building, which is fully furnished like a residential house, will be used to practice search, hose line advancement, ladder tactics, window bailouts, “VE(I)S”, rapid intervention scenarios, and anything else we can think of! We have built purpose built props within the building as well such as 2 forcible entry doors as well as a VES/victim removal window, all while maintaining a secure facility.
In addition to these first 5 containers, we have managed to acquire 5 more as well! 3 of these will facilitate our build out of our very own burn building, which we will be working on in the very near future. 1 has been placed next to Building 1, and the final container is fully finished and was donated by UPMC. This final container will serve as our classroom/office for now, as well as a firefighter rehab area on burn days.
We would be remiss is we didn’t recognize our corporate partners who have helped us get this far.
First and foremost, we would like to thank our friend Kyrk Pyros with Allegheny Crane and Rigging on facilitating the placement of all of our containers thus far on their footers. Without the use of his equipment, none of this would be possible.
Next, we would like to give thanks to Jamie and her employees at Busy Beaver in Washington. Busy Beaver has been our primary supplier for building materials for all of the projects we have been working on. Jamie has been able to not only get us what we need, but also donate materials that we have been able to use to keep our operating costs low.
JB Mechanical in Washington donated their mini excavator for our crews to use to dig footers, remove old fencing, and dig up old tree stumps. JB Mechanical recently did business with the City in upgrading the HVAC system at Fire Headquarters. It’s great to work with companies that not only do business with the city, but also donate back!
Joe Lucas at Lucas Electric was kind enough to bring his equipment to the training ground and help us auger holes so that we can pour concrete for the footers. This help quite literally laid the foundation for our buildings. Without his help, our crews would have had to hand dig 24” diameter holes, several feet deep. We look forward to working with him in the future for some other projects we have on the docket!
Our very own Street Department deserves recognition as well. Over the past several weeks, they have worked during their down time to dig out topsoil, and replace it with asphalt millings to create roads for our miniature city block. The creation of these roads allows for fire apparatus to be placed in proximity to the buildings as they would on normal fireground around the city.
Thank you to UPMC for the donation of the office trailer! We will make great use of it!
Lastly, we would like to thank our elected officials for allowing this dream to become a reality. Their support of this endeavor directly affects you, the taxpayers, by giving you the best trained firefighters by allowing us to have space to train and hone our craft. What a great return on investment!
Thanks to these corporate sponsors, as well as the dedication of our crews, the costs for this facility have been kept EXTREMELY low, especially in comparison to some other commercially available facilities that are on the market. These fine people will also be recognized at a “unveiling ceremony” held by Chief Richer, later this year. If you have interest in donating or becoming a corporate sponsor, you can reach out to Chief Richer at 724-223-4227 to see how you can help and what our needs are at this point.
We look forward to showing you all what we have been working on!
