Granville firemen to get new training facility

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Photo Courtesy of Granville Engine & Hose Company #1. A Granville Fire Department ladder truck.

The Granville Village Board unanimously approved the replacement and construction of a new firefighting training facility for Granville Fire Department.

The previous location at 81 East Potter Avenue, a 20’x12’ concrete building, was described as “past the point of repair” in Chief Ryan Pedone and the Granville Fire Department’s members’ letter to the board.

“This project will replace the current facility which was built back in the early 1980s,” Pedone’s letter said, read aloud by Mayor Paul Labas. “Some may ask why we don’t use the Washington County/Warren County training facility. The answer is that (the facility) does not allow for live fire training. This facility can be used only with smoke machines.”

Pedone wants to give his members the most realistic training experience possible, so when the time comes for a structure fire, his department is more than prepared and has hours of practice under their belts.

The letter explained the construction of a 50’x30’ pad with a series of shipping containers attached to serve as hallways and specific training scenarios would be completed over the course of five years, depending on income of the department. Additionally, the trailer and fire tower currently on the property will be removed.

Pedone’s letter said the closest live-fire training facility is in Ballston Spa, which creates issues if a call were to occur in the district while the department was out training.

Granville Fire Department’s new facility would also include a roof ventilation and chimney fire simulator.

“This facility would also allow us a place to continue our firefighters’ emergency escape bail-out training facility from the third floor,” the letter said.

Pedone said in-person at the meeting his department will take care of the building process.

“We’re going to do it internally,” Pedone said.

Board member Dean Hyatt recommended to the board that additional oversight on the construction of the facility, possibly done by Lamont Engineers, be conducted, “just so we know you do it right.”

In the letter, Pedone and the department said they would be open to look into the possibility of neighboring departments and members using the facility for their drill-nights, pending on insurance being provided in the case of an emergency. The letter also said it would be likely to require the Granville Fire Department chief to be present for an outside company’s drill taking place at the new facility.

Labas was excited to announce this to the board and show his support to the Granville Fire Department in their volunteer efforts to be the best they can.

“I think that this is going to advance the training capabilities of our firefighters and do nothing but benefit the area,” Labas said. “I don’t see anything wrong with this.”