GREEN: Summit County has its first burn training building, which will be used to teach firefighting techniques to students and veteran firefighters.
The new training center, located on the Portage Lakes Career Center campus on Shriver Road in Green, is the result of a partnership between the University of Akron’s College of Applied Science and Technology and the local community. The building is three stories high and is made out of steel.
“This is the first of its kind this large,” said Barberton fire Capt. Rob Pursley Jr., who is also the program director of the fire training program at UA. The new state-of-the-art emergency services laboratory was dedicated Monday.
The career center paid $900,000 for the training facility. UA paid $43,000 for the air compressor station for the self-contained breathing apparatus used by firefighters inside the burn building.
UA’s Training Center for Fire and Hazardous Materials will manage the facility with an on-site office.
There are several other live burn training facilities in Northeast Ohio, but none in Summit County.
The ribbon-cutting was followed by a live fire-burning demonstration in the facility.
“On the inside where the burn chambers are, there are actually fire-insulated panels to protect the steel,” Pursley said. “The walls are lined with plywood and what we call the burn crib, which is essentially a barrel stacked with wood — that’s what we set on fire.”
Firefighters in the building set the wood on fire as about 50 spectators watched the fire intensity grow and smoke come out of the building. Firefighters opened the door and a window to show the smoke and flames, then extinguished the fire.
“It’s designed to handle every type of anticipated problem. It’s high-tech,” acting UA Provost Rex Ramsier said. “It will expand our offerings at the fire tech program at the University of Akron where high school students can get credit toward an associate degree. The training will help not only high school students, but veteran firefighters to enhance their skills and keep them up to speed.”
He said the firefighters and students will be learning how to handle things in the real world and basic firefighting techniques, including forcible entry, dousing fires, rescuing residents, how to bail out of a second floor window and how to ventilate roofs.
Several Portage Lakes Career Center seniors came to watch the demonstration. There are nine in the program.
The Portage Lakes Career Center offers career training and development for students from the Coventry, Green, Manchester and Springfield school districts.
Austin Mick, 17, wore a firefighter’s cap that read, “First one in, last one out.”
He said he was excited about the program.
“We’ll be able to expand our knowledge with actual experience,” said Steven Cook, also 17. “I can’t wait. We will train up until the last two weeks of school then we’ll be able to get firsthand experience in the training facility.”
Dan Courtney, 17, said the training facility will allow them to get certified in firefighting without having to travel to another facility.
Benjamin Moore, the superintendent of the career center, said the support and involvement for the project by the mayor, fire officials and the board of education has been invaluable.
He thanked firefighters for all they do and their sacrifices, saying the new facility “will help to make sure you are prepared when the alarm is sounded.”
Marilyn Miller can be reached at 330-996-3098 or mmiller@thebeaconjournal.com.