4/13/17

FRACKVILLE, SCHUYLKILL COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) -- Row home fires can light up a whole block as they spread from one house to another. But soon firefighters will take a new approach to fighting those types of fires. Eyewitness News reporter Haley Bianco shows us how it works.

Borough and county leaders came together to break ground on a new burn building in Schuylkill County.

"We are working on a 1.4 million dollar project behind me," said Frank Zangari, Schuylkill County Fire Chiefs Association President. 

"If we save one life, it's worth it's weight in gold," said Commissioner George Halcovage Jr., speaking at the event. 

The burn unit addresses one of the major fire hazards in this area.

"This is going to resemble a double block row home with an attached garage," explained Eric Eichenberg, Schuylkill County Firefighters Association Lead Trustee. 

"This will allow them to show the students how it spreads and be more efficient when fighting the fire," said David Sattizahn, Schuylkill County Firefighters Association President. 

Here's a look at what the building will look like: it will be a concrete building with protective heat panels, masonry, and concrete brick. Inside will be nine burn rooms which can reach a temperature upwards of 15-hundred degrees. 

"There's a lot of opportunity to do a lot of different scenarios here that firefighters in Schuylkill County never were able to practice," said Eichenberg. 

Most importantly, it's not just for firefighters. EMS, police, prison workers and businesses can also train in the building. Police will have live shooting training. And one of the rooms will be designed as a jail cell. 

Once the burn unit is completed it's expected to last for about 50 years. And with it's state-of-the-art design, project leaders hope it will spark and interest with volunteers now and in the future.

The burn building will be used by more than 100 fire companies in Schuylkill County.

"This will be remembered as the place where people learned how to save lives," said Rep. Neal Goodman, speaking at the event. 

The previous burn unit was torn down in 2016. Since then, firefighters have been traveling outside of the county for training. But starting in October, it will be right in their back yard.