Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company holds open house for new station
Bethel Park firefighter Ed Schmidt prepares to exit a window, demonstrating the use of three-story tower designed for training purposes at the new station, located on Brightwood Road.
Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 18 to show off its new facility, located on Brightwood Road.
Bethel Park volunteer firefighters David Gerber and Ed Schmidt hustle into their equipment during a practice drill at their new facility on Brigthwood Road.
Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company member Ed Schmidt demonstrates the use of a new drying system for equipment at the new facility on Brightwood Road.
Firefighter Ed Schmidt shows a piece of equipment at the new fire station.
Bays at the new fire station have plenty of space for vehicles.
Firefighter Ed Schmidt retrieves a helmet.
Firefighter Ed Schmidt takes a close look at a helmet.
Inside the kitchen at the new fire station
Lockers for firefighters’ gear
Firefighter Ed Schmidt changes into his gear.
Firefighters David Gerber, left, and Ed Schmidt hustle into their equipment during a practice drill at their new facility on Brigthwood Road.
Firefighters David Gerber, left, and Ed Schmidt hustle into their equipment during a practice drill at their new facility on Brigthwood Road.
Stained glass on the face of the new fire station
There is no siren. There is no pole that can be shimmied down when firefighters respond to a call.
However, the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company’s new Brightwood Station has all the bells and whistles, including a three-story tower from which rescuers can rappel during training exercises.
“It’s a building we, as a community can be proud of,” said Jerry Duke, Bethel Park director of community services. “It’s a state-of-the-art facility that we can be pleased with overall.”
Fire Chief David Gerber certainly is pleased with the $8.2 million station.
“It’s fabulous,” he said. “I’m very excited about this building.”
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 18, the community can share in the excitement as it gets a glimpse of the facility during an open house. The grand opening commences with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Mayor Jack Allen and council president Tim Moury will be among the 16 dignitaries scheduled to speak.
Miss Pennsylvania 2015, Ashley Schmider of South Fayette, will make an appearance.
The Bethel Park Community Foundation and Cools Springs have donated funds and will present grants for the project. Bethel Bakery will provide pastries, and soft drinks will be served. Tours of the station will take place throughout the day.
Of the open house, 18-year Bethel Park firefighter Ed Schmidt said, “It’s going to be a great way to show off the building.”
Schmidt has played a key role in the construction of the facility. He is the company’s recording secretary and the new building committee chairperson.
“There was a strong need for this,” he said.
Duke agreed.
“At 50 years, the facility was not meeting the needs of the community,” he said. “Bethel Park has grown, and the buildings are taller, and there was a need for a facility to help firefighters train. Our equipment has gotten bigger and more sophisticated. The old building was just a deterrent. This new building will help our community, as well as other firefighters. This goes above and beyond.”
The new station, located at 5213 Brightwood Road, will house five of the 12 trucks in the community’s fleet. Bethel Park has two other stations, on Clifton and Milford roads.
Built on the same site where the previous 14,000-square-foot station was razed, the new version is 22,000 square feet.
“Space is key,” Gerber said. “In the past, three chiefs have had to share one office, which was more like a shower stall. Actually, it was,” he added with a hearty laugh. “Now we all have offices.”
The building, which is financed from bonds that will be repaid with a 0.34-mill property tax increase instituted in 2013, features executive offices for the chief, president, deputy chief, vice president, treasurer and line officers, along with many amenities and resources.
The three-story tower, which has been deemed the “focal point” by Duke and Schmidt, allows firefighters to practice routine drills on site.
“We can throw ladders inside and outside, simulate confinement situations, and tie off ropes to rappel,” said Gerber. “We can train right here.”
The station also features a radio room, which acts as a command center during an emergency situation.
“Radios are activated with members answering calls, and personnel – such as press, police, sheriff departments – report to this room for communication purposes,” said Schmidt.
There are two separate meeting rooms. The larger room, which can accommodate about 56 and is annexed to a fully equipped kitchen, will be used for normal business meetings and large training seminars. Technology includes screens, wireless microphones and projectors.
The smaller conference room seats 18 and features a digital interactive whiteboard that can connect to computers, along with a trainer seat and tablea equipped with electrical ports for computers and cellphones. According to Gerber and Schmidt, a training session for drivers would be one example of the room’s use.
State-of-the-art features in the building include a heating system that is designed to keep the bays warm. Thanks to hot coils inlaid into the concrete, the entire engine bay floor is heated by water.
“This allows the vehicles to dry off faster, and there is less chance of corrosion,” Schmidt said. The 14-foot, bi-fold doors open within four seconds.
In addition there are SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) rooms to store bottles and do repair work, as well as clean and sanitize equipment, “The machines control the temperatures and speed, and dispense the right amount of detergent,” Schmidt said.
Additionally, there are machines to decontaminate and dry gear.
“Once the contaminates and dirt are washed out, we put the equipment on these machines, and that allows us to dry them faster and according to the guidelines,” Schmidt said. “In less than two hours, four sets of gear – boots, helmets and gloves – are dry.”
In the bowels of the building is a generator that powers the systems in case of an electrical failure. There is an information technology room, as well as plenty of space for storage. Plus there is a day room or lounge that features two computer stations, a large-screen television and small kitchenette, providing incentive for firefighters to spend more time at the station and, in turn, respond to calls more expediently.
The firefighters have yet another reason to spend more time at the station, as it features a fully equipped fitness center. The gym has 18 pieces of exercise equipment, including a full complement of weights and kettlebells.
“More fire fighters die from cardiac arrest than any other injury or disease,” said Schmidt. “The gym is designed for the health and well-being of our members.”
Cost of construction prohibited Bethel Park from adding a social hall.
“Casinos have taken away the bingo business,” Schmidt said. “We don’t get the players anymore. The municipality has the community center.”
Duke concurred.
“Traditionally, fire halls have been for bingos, fundraising and weddings, but that role has changed,” he said. “It’s more for fire services. It’s not social. It’s all business.”