Westmoreland

_______________________________________________________

• 
  Public Safety Training Center
  
  • 
    Westmoreland County Community College
    

_______________________________________________________

About the Public Safety Training Center

Westmoreland County Community College opened a new, $7.5M Public Safety Training Center in South Huntingdon Twp. in October 2003. The site is located about two miles from the Smithton exit (no. 49) of Interstate 70 W on Reduction Road. The planning for a hands-on training facility dates to December 1979 when a joint meeting of the College's Fire Science Advisory Committee and the Westmoreland County Fire School committee met to discuss the possibility of a permanent training center site. After many years of meetings, "wheel spinning" and ups and downs, the official groundbreaking ceremony was held August 19, 2002. The center features a six-story, 14,100 square foot tower that can simulate a variety of industrial, commercial and mercantile occupancies with an attached 2 ½ story residential building. Both areas are equipped with state-of-the art, gas-fired simulators with flash-over capability from the Symtron Corporation. The first phase also provides a 4,500 square foot classroom and administration building that can house a fire engine for indoor training during inclement weather. Additional propane-fired outdoor training props are available as well as a pond and pump house featuring two, 1,500 gpm electric fire pumps. The master plan calls for a $30M contingent of props, buildings and training areas for a full compliment of hands-on training opportunities for police, fire, hazardous materials, industrial safety, SWAT and emergency medical services personnel. The 163-acre site has plenty of open space for these and many other training possibilities. Lead architectural planning has been provided by JSA Architects, Pittsburgh with special burn building design by Teng and Associates, Chicago and site engineering from H. F. Lenz, Johnstown. The general contractor is C & M Contracting, Pittsburgh. Ribbon cutting was October 10, 2003. - For firefighting and rescue training, contact David Hauger, 724-872-2447. - For law enforcement, police academy and homeland security programs, contact 724-925-4298. - For emergency medical services and continuing nursing education, contact Becky Lauffer, 724-925-4082.

Training Building

The training building encompasses over 14,000 sq. ft. with two primary areas: a 2 ½ story residential unit and a 6 story tower arranged in an L-shape. The residential component includes a typical first floor living room, kitchen, dining room and attached garage with overhead door. The second floor, accessible from the interior stairs, provides two bedrooms, a bathroom and an attic space. There are two different roof slopes with ventilation "chop-out" openings. A Symtron T-1000 natural gas fired training unit is installed in a second floor bedroom. It will create a bed/headboard fire with the ability to control the flame height and growth speed, the difficulty of extinguishment and how much "soak" time is needed to prevent re-ignition. The instructor has complete control over the fire scenario from a remote-controlled pendant. At the touch of a button, all gas valves can be closed and the forced-air ventilation system activated to provide rapid smoke and heat removal. There are sensors to determine if the correct amount of water is being applied to extinguish the fire. This residential area also provides exterior access to the second floor fire simulator to create a "basement" fire scenario. Both the residential and tower areas have a variety of common features. Stainless steel repelling "tie-off" bars for vertical rope rescue training; confined space openings for below-grade rescue situations; burn-through openings to allow for vertical heat and smoke movement and specially engineered "forcible entry" doors to simulate repeated entry using hand tools are provided. The six-story tower provides an even greater range of "commercial" training scenarios including: motel, office, high-rise apartments, "strip" shopping center, high-bay and mezzanine industrial storage areas and a 1,200 sq. ft. re-configurable smoke maze. There are balconies for ladder and rope rescue evolutions, a variety of interior and exterior stairways, an elevator shaft with four types of simulated door assemblies for vertical and horizontal rescue activities, internal and external loading docks with coiling overhead doors, an overhead "jib" crane for moving heavy objects between floors and for industrial training activities and an second live fire simulator. The second natural gas fired simulator will recreate an industrial storage fire with flames reaching six or more feet. In addition, this unit will also have "flashover" capability, a feature to simulate the rapidly expanding ceiling fire spread phenomenon. If the fire attack crew correctly applies water overhead, the fire will not flare up or spread across the ceiling. The instructor again has complete control of the fire simulation from a remote controlled pendant. The training building has been pre-engineered for an additional four Symtron fire simulators providing the potential for six different fire situations. Both of the fire simulator areas have gas detection and heat thermocouples installed at a variety of locations to sense natural gas buildup and high heat conditions. Safety features are built-in to the simulators for the continuous monitoring of gas and heat conditions to provide student and instructor safety. Gas detection is always "on" as an added safety feature should a leak occur. A special, climate-controlled room is provided for the two fire simulator control units. Here, computerized systems with a programmable logic controller (PLC) monitor the fire conditions and provide constant heat and gas detection capability. The instructor has the ability to override the system to provide immediate shut down should a problem arise. A key-controlled master switch provides security against unauthorized use.

Classroom Building

The all brick classroom building (with a fire house architectural style) houses one classroom, a truck bay, office area and restrooms. The building has been engineered to allow for future expansion without interrupting ongoing training activities. The classroom has a movable partition which opens to the climate controlled apparatus bay, effectively tripling the available seating space. This high-bay area also doubles as a second classroom and will allow for indoor apparatus operation by utilizing exhaust removal equipment. The floors and classroom areas have been given an industrial look and feel so trainees can use these facilities after outdoor training activities thus minimizing clean-up efforts. The building is fully protected by a wet pipe sprinkler system and all areas are climate controlled. The clock tower houses the boiler equipment to maximize usable floor space. The overhead garage door is 14' x 14' so modern fire apparatus can safely enter and exit the area. Access gate and outdoor lighting control are also provided.

Outdoor Fire Training Props

The outdoor area beyond the training building contains two (with room for a third) propane-fired simulation props. One is a horizontal propane storage tank and the other is a vertical industrial pipe fire simulator (often referred to as a Christmas tree). These two units are also provided by the Symtron Corporation and are fueled from the on-site propane tank and associated vaporizer. The first unit simulates a break in a supply line from a horizontal propane storage tank. The system provides training in the safe approach, cooling and extinguishment or control of an impingement fire and relief valve fire. The fires are initiated from a pendant controlled by the instructor at the burner control assembly. Flames can extend six feet above grade and if the crew successfully locates and turns off the gas supply valve, the fire will go out. Otherwise, the instructor can remotely actuate the top-mounted relief valve and fire will burn over twenty feet into the air. The second prop simulates a broken propane pipe assembly. This Christmas tree creates the conditions encountered during the control and suppression of an industrial gas pipe assembly. The instructor controls the fire from a hand-held pendant. Flames initially engulf the tree two feet above the piping. If the students successfully locate and close the supply valve, the fire will diminish. If the instructor decides this is taking too long or the valve is not located, a large flare-up is initiated. This flame can reach a height of 20 feet and is completely controllable from the instructor's pendant. The fire continues until the instructor is satisfied the students have correctly completed the scenario.

Pump House and Outdoor Areas

The pump house is located over the hillside from the training building. It is accessible from an access roadway from the outdoor props. The pump house contains two electrically driven, 1,500 gpm pumps that take water from the ten million gallon pond. The pumps feed five training fire hydrants around the training grounds through a dedicated 12" water line. All the water used in the training evolutions (as well as most of the other surface water) is recycled into the pond through a network of underground piping. Fire engines can also draft water from the pond through a "dry hydrant" connection. The pumps are located in the left side of the building while the electrical panels are in the middle bay. There is a small storage area on the right hand side of the pump house. A reinforced concrete pad covering approximately 95,000 sq. feet surrounds the training building. The pad is capable of safely supporting even the heaviest aerial apparatus. Overhead lights illuminate the training grounds. Each bank of lights on the sides of the training building is individually controlled for various nighttime training scenarios and clean-up safety.

• 
  Public Safety Communication Summary Protocols
  
  • 
    Addressing the Communications Center
    
  • 
    Fire Dispatch Acknowledgements
    
  • 
    Assignment of Fire TAC Channels
    

_______________________________________________________
*Please contact WCDPS Fire QA for complete SOG and powerpoint presentation for your department.

• 
  Addressing the Communications Center
  

• 
  800 MHz Dispatch Channel/Talkgroup
  
  • 
    Position 1 on Radio (Talkgroup 1)
    
  • 
    Only for Fire Dispatch
    
  • 
    One-Way Communications
    
  • 
    Field Unit Communications is NOT Permitted
    
  • 
    Use Your Command Channel for Contact
    

• 
  Field units attempting to contact the Dispatch Console should initially identify the talkgroup they are calling on.
  
  • 
    Fire Dispatch from Chief 39 on Zone 1 Fire Command, or…
    
  • 
    9-1-1 from Chief 69 on TAC 3
    
    • 
      Once initial contact is made with the center, it is no longer necessary to identify the talkgroup you are calling on, unless you change to a different talkgroup.
      

• 
  Please note…
  
  • 
    When the dispatcher is setting off the tones for your siren and minitors, he is unable to answer you on the radio if you call him.
    
  • 
    The console is busy.
    
  • 
    Please be patient. He will answer you as soon as the dispatch is complete.
    
  • 
    If there is someone at the backup console, he can answer you.
    

• 
  Fire Dispatch Acknowledgements
  
  • 
    Acknowledge on Zone Fire Command TAC (2)
    
    • 
      Acknowledge Alarm
      
      • 
        Station 90 Acknowledges the call
        
    • 
      Acknowledge Enroute
      
      • 
        Dispatch from Engine 90, enroute with 3 + 2
        
    • 
      Dispatcher Will Assign TAC for Operations
      
  • 
    Switch to Assigned TAC
    
    • 
      Acknowledge Approaching and/or On-Scene
      
      • 
        Engine 90 approaching scene requesting orders
        
  • 
    Dispatcher Will Maintain Timestamps
    
  • 
    Do Not Acknowledge if You Can’t Respond
    

• 
  Assignment of Fire “TAC” Channels
  
  • 
    TAC’s Assigned by Dispatcher
    
  • 
    Fire TAC 3 through TAC 9
    
    • 
      Assigned Primarily for EMERGENCY Use
      
  • 
    TAC 10 & TAC 11
    
    • 
      May Be Assigned for Non-Emergency Use
      
      • 
        Trees and/or wires down, flooding, etc.
        
    • 
      May Be Used for Department Training
      
      • 
        Requests must be made in advance by telephone or fax
        
    • 
      May Be Re-Assigned for Emergency Use During Times of High Call Volumes
      
    • 
      Simplicity of Operation
      
    • 
      Talkgroup Selector Corresponds to “TAC” Channel
      
    • 
      Position 1 is Dispatch Talkgroup / Channel
      
    • 
      Position 2 is Specific Zone Command Talkgroup
      
    • 
      Position 3 through 15 are “TAC” Talkgroups
      
    • 
      Remembering 12 through 15 are CW TAC’s
      
    • 
      Position 16 is Talkaround or T/A
      
    • 
      TAC Channels Assigned by Priority
      
    • 
      Higher Priority Calls Assigned Lower TAC
      
    • 
      Lesser Priority Calls Assigned Higher TAC
      

• 
  Dispatcher will assign an operations channel (TAC) during dispatch of incident
  
• 
  Request for Additional TAC Channel
  
  • 
    Incident OIC May Request Additional TAC Channel
    
  • 
    Dispatcher Will Assign Second or Third TAC, if Available
    
  • 
    Stand-bys Will Remain on Zone Command
    
• 
  Do Not Assign Your Own TAC
  

• 
  Dispatching outside companies into areas with municipal radio systems for alarms
  
  • 
    Assigned to Municipal System’s Frequency
    
    • 
      ie. Switch to Hempfield Fire
      
  • 
    Dispatcher Assisted Announcements Will be on the Municipal System and 33.70
    
• 
  Dispatching outside companies for stand-by into areas with municipal radio systems
  
  • 
    Remain on Zone Command
    
  • 
    Announcements Made on Zone Command and 33.70
    

• 
  Dispatching of companies with municipality owned radio systems out of their area for alarms or stand-by
  
  • 
    Switch to Assigned a Fire TAC Channel
    
  • 
    Dispatcher announcements will be made on both the municipality system and Fire TAC channel
    
    • 
      Size-Ups
      
    • 
      Response level changes
      
    • 
      Cancellations
      

• 
  Special Resources – Please CALL 911
  
  • 
    Veterinarians (large and small animal) for Farm, Home, and Highway incidents
    
  • 
    Interpreters (Spanish, French, German, Polish) for mass casualty incidents on highways, parks, etc.
    
  • 
    Sign Language Interpreters for mass casualty incidents on highways, parks, etc. 
    
  • 
    Special Needs caregivers for mass casualty incidents on highways, parks, etc.
    

_______________________________________________________




WESTMORELAND COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY

FIRE DEPARTMENT RELATED CONTACTS

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY/

EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR

RICH MATASON 724-600-7301

[e-mail]
DEPUTY EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR/

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER

DAN STEVENS 724-600-7305

[e-mail]
FIRE - 911 QUALITY ASSURANCE OFFICE

MIKE BURKE 724-600-7310

[e-mail]
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

JOE NIEDZALKOSKI 724-600-7356

[e-mail]
REGION 13 WESTMORELAND COORDINATOR

BILL HOBAUGH 724-600-7387

[e-mail]
ADDRESSING COORDINATOR

PAT BAUER 724-600-7312

[e-mail]
HAZMAT COORDINATOR

CHRISTOPHER TANTLINGER 724-600-7349 [e-mail]

Department_______________________________________________________________

Name____________________________________________________________________

Position__________________________________________________________________

Date Received_____________________________________________________________

Please forward your comments and suggestions to the President of the Fire Chiefs Association of Westmoreland County.

Also please use the web at:

http://fcawc.webs.com

FIRE CHIEFS ASSOCIATION OF WESTMORELAND COUNTY 1^st ed. 2010