Built to burn, firefighter training center opens
CALIFORNIA – On a small corner of land near California University’s Roadman Park stands a small two-story building that was set on fire just last week and will be set ablaze again soon. The concrete fireproof building served as a state-of-the-art training complex for the Southwestern Pennsylvania Firefighters Training Institute during its 70th annual training session.
Kelly Parshall, president of Southwestern Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs Association said the training was a huge success.
The 28 student firefighters and the 50 trainers involved “all raved about the building,” he said.
The concrete building, which is the sixth of its kind in the United States, was officially dedicated Friday.
Charred edges of the windows and the burn marks on the concrete walls were the only evidence that the $626,000 building had been on fire already.
Other than black burn marks on the structure, the building looks as good as new.
“It’s not often that you build a building that you constantly burn,” said state Rep. Peter J. Daley (D-California).
Daley was hailed for his support and assistance in securing nearly $450,000 in state grants for the building.
Daley, looking at the structure, said the building should be considered a part of the package that built Pittsburgh’s PNC Park and Heinz Field.
He said once he secured funding for the building, he found it was more than expected, which meant he had to secure more funds.
“So I got on my hands and knees with my hat in my hand…I had to vote for the stadiums as a trade to get another $350,000,” he said.
But Daley said that he was happy to do it. The California native said that as a child there were only three things to look forward to, the firemen’s carnival, Kennywood Day and fire school.
He said the kids used to watch the firemen build woodpiles and set them on fire and then practice dousing them.
“As a child I always look forward to them,” he said.
Daley also expressed his gratitude and the nation’s gratitude toward firefighters since Sept. 11 and said local firefighters deserve to have a training complex.
“After 9/11, we have given increased awareness for our life-saving men and women who risk their lives to answer a fire call,” he said noting that the training school building was in the works long before then.
Daley presented a $163,000 check to Cal U President Angelo Armenti Jr.
Daley and Parshall both praised and thanked the university for its support in establishing the training site, which was 15 years in the making.
Even before the building was built, Cal U had hosted the annual fire school and Armenti said they are proud to do it.
“I’m impressed with our ongoing relations with the fire institute dating back to 1933,” Armenti said. “Our firefighters deserve nothing less.”
Armenti told the firefighters in the audience that he is “proud to call you our neighbors and friends… firefighters, you will always be welcome here.”
According to Armenti the students, through the Student Association Inc., donated the land for the building.
Both Armenti and Daley credited one person for constantly pushing for the construction of the building.
Daley said Sam Lombardo, past fire chief at California, “is like a pit bull. He never gives up.”
Lombardo, along with Edward, “Woody” Nicholson, Parshall and others were commended for their dedication toward making the fireproof building a reality.
The building is located at the intersection of Highland Drive and Blaine Street, tucked away on the corner just below the university’s soccer and softball fields.
Each room has doors or windows with steel shutters. The roof is made of concrete except for a small section that is covered with wood to allow firefighters to practice cutting holes. The flooring is made from firebricks traditionally used to line chimneys. The ceilings also are lined with the specially designed heat-resistant concrete tiles that are quipped with heat sensors.
Parshall said that the building will greatly enhance the quality of training by allowing more hands-on experience at each training session.
In previous years, firefighters trained in abandoned frame houses that were purposely set afire.
“This is the most effective training facility we could ask for,” Parshall said. “We look forward to many more years of training firefighters to better serve our community.”