A capital campaign to build a new, $1.6 million state-of-the-art multifunctional training facility in Schuylkill County is underway.

Chad Felty, president and assistant fire chief of the New England Fire Company, told Walker Township's board of supervisors on Thursday about the capital campaign that's been started by the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association.Felty said the association has come up with a program to secure funds from the public, private and fire service sector. Its goal is for the funding to be broken down into thirds; one-third from the county, one-third from the state; and one-third from firefighters and fire companies in the county, he said.Supervisors did not take any action Thursday.Initiatives have already been implemented to secure funding from both the private and public sector throughout the county, and the association has also appealed to the fire service sector to raise funds to complete the project.Contributions may be done either as a one-time gift or pledge, and those who choose to pledge can spread payments out for up to five years.Pledge payments can be set up on a monthly, quarterly, semiannual or annual basis.Contacted this morning, David Sattizahn, president of the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association, said the campaign began in January. To date, over $600,000 has been raised, he said.Sattizahn said the structure would be built on a piece of land the SCVFA owns at the fire school academy grounds along Fireman's Road in Frackville.He said the structure would no longer be just a burn building, but, rather, a multifunctional training facility that could be used not only for fire training purposes, but also used by other entities such as the Department of Corrections, state police and others."It's a vital part to the Schuylkill County Fire Service," Sattizahn said."We need that to train. Right now, all our people for structural burn have to go elsewhere for live fire training, and we're hoping that with the multifunctional building that we're generating more income off industry."Sattizahn said the plan is to have the project out to bid this month, and award a bid next month.The structure is expected to be built by next year, he said.The former burn building was condemned and demolished, said Sattizahn. The building originally had a 15-year life expectancy, but they were able to get more than 20 years out of it.