The Baden Volunteer Fire Department is working to raise $100,000 to build a training facility that will be used by fire departments throughout Beaver County.
Funds raised will help cover the project’s first phase—the construction of a main fire training building on Tevebaugh Road in Baden.
Funds raised will help cover the project’s first phase—the construction of a main fire training building on Tevebaugh Road in Baden.
Baden Assistant Fire Chief Dennis Baker Jr. said the fire department has a 99-year lease with the Baden Municipal Authority, which owns the property.
About two years ago, Baker and a couple other members on the Baden Fire Department decided they need a place to train within the county. Baker said the hope is to break ground later this year.
“We were hoping to already have a building built. We haven’t been really successful in raising enough funds.”
Over the last 20 years, Baker said the county discussed building a site, but it never materialized for whatever reason. The nearest training facilities are in Butler and Allegheny counties.
Beaver County has close to 50 fire departments that often have to travel outside of the county to do training if it can’t take place in-house.
“It takes the equipment out of town, the fire trucks, and it also takes the manpower out of the town for an extended amount of time.”
Classes can last anywhere from 16 hours up to 180 hours and firefighters are required to stay up to date on training, which can also affect federal grant funding. The training building would be open to surrounding counties based on availability, but in-county departments would get first preference.
Baker recently started an online funding campaign at GoFundMe.com. So far $400 has been raised through the site and a total of $10,000 has been raised overall.
“If 5,000 people say they can donate $5, that quickly adds up and it’s not a lot of money for an individual to donate,” he said.
To make a donation, or to learn more, click here.
About two years ago, Baker and a couple other members on the Baden Fire Department decided they need a place to train within the county. Baker said the hope is to break ground later this year.
“We were hoping to already have a building built. We haven’t been really successful in raising enough funds.”
Over the last 20 years, Baker said the county discussed building a site, but it never materialized for whatever reason. The nearest training facilities are in Butler and Allegheny counties.
Beaver County has close to 50 fire departments that often have to travel outside of the county to do training if it can’t take place in-house.
“It takes the equipment out of town, the fire trucks, and it also takes the manpower out of the town for an extended amount of time.”
Classes can last anywhere from 16 hours up to 180 hours and firefighters are required to stay up to date on training, which can also affect federal grant funding. The training building would be open to surrounding counties based on availability, but in-county departments would get first preference.
Baker recently started an online funding campaign at GoFundMe.com. So far $400 has been raised through the site and a total of $10,000 has been raised overall.
“If 5,000 people say they can donate $5, that quickly adds up and it’s not a lot of money for an individual to donate,” he said.
To make a donation, or to learn more, click here.
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