Bucks County Blog

Commissioners Aid in Demolition of Bucks County Fire Training Burn Building

July 3rd, 2007

Underscoring their commitment to provide Bucks County firefighters with the most comprehensive training tools available, Bucks County Commissioners Charles H. Martin, Chairman, James F. Cawley, Esq. and Sandra A. Miller today took part in a demolition ceremony symbolizing the move toward a new burn building. The facility is located near the Bucks County Public Safety Training Center in Doylestown Township.

The demolition project, which is being performed by Levittown’s DeNucci Construction, will remove the existing burn building. In its place will rise a Class A, wood-incinerating burn building (the former building was a Class B, or gas, facility) that will feature advances in training such as rapid intervention, firefighter survival, and ventilation.

“This will be a fine improvement,” Chairman Martin told an assemblage of fire officials from around the county and Bucks County Community College. “We will be taking bids (for contracting work) in the next week to 10 days.”

Commissioner Miller added her support, noting, “We want to provide our fire service personnel with the appropriate training. This facility will go beyond that to provide more advanced training. This is a great day for Bucks County.”

Both Commissioners Martin and Cawley took turns operating one of the enormous DeNucci track excavators, knocking gaping chunks of cinderblock to the ground.

Joining the commissioners for the ceremony were Chief Operating Officer Dave Sanko, Bucks County Fire Marshal Nick Rafferty, Jay McKay, president of the Bucks County Fire Chief’s Association, Eddie Copper, chief of the Falls Twp. Fire Marshal’s office and chairman of the burn building committee, Bob Grunmeier and Fred Hashagen of the Bucks County Community College Public Safety Training Center, and Jay McQuaid of the Bucks County Public Works department.

“We want to extend our thanks to the commissioners,” said Fire Marshal Rafferty. “Their driving force allows us to move forward.”

McKay echoed those sentiments, adding, “This will be a valuable asset for all of our firefighters.”

An architectural rendering of the new facility, by Edmeades and Stromdahl (to whom the commissioners awarded an $83,450 design contract during February, 2006), shows features such as an adjustable maze to create more effective situational training and adjustable pitched roofing.

“This will allow us to use wood in our drills, which is much more realistic,” Copper pointed out.

Moments later, as Commissioner Martin operated the controls of the excavator, a group of observers savored the action. As the hole in old facility’s wall grew, one of them exclaimed, “Good things come to those who wait.”

Entry Filed under: Bucks County News