COVID-19 has disrupted live fire training exercises at the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association burn building, but money is still needed.

“This facility is so important,” Dave Sattizahn, president of the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association said last week.

Recognizing its importance, Mauch Chunk Trust donated $5,000 Thursday.

Lisa Confer, community office manager for the Hometown and West Penn offices and Mike Prock, business banker for Schuylkill County and western Carbon County, thanked Sattizahn for the selfless efforts of firefighters.

“I know the hard work that they do to raise money,” Confer said.

She said local fire companies belong to the bank that has locations in Schuylkill and Carbon counties. The pandemic has diminished the money firefighters have collected, Sattizahn said.

The building

The multifunctional burn facility is located at 25 Firemans Road in Ryan Township. The 2,500-square-foot cinder block and concrete building was dedicated in April 2018.

RDG Planning and Design designed the building. Performance Construction Services Inc., a division of Quandel Enterprises Inc., was the contractor.

Project costs are $2.4 million. Of that, about $400,000 is still outstanding, Sattizahn said. The building was $1.5 million. Fire companies, private donors, the county, municipalities and others contributed to the cause. Donations are still needed. SF2DO, which is the advisory board, is the fundraising component of the association.

Micah Gursky is a member of the SF2DO board. He thanked the bank for its contribution.

“Mauch Chunk (Trust) is a great community bank,” he said.

The building should last between 70 to 75 years, Sattizahn said. The prior structure, which stood where the new one is, was 22 years old before being demolished.

Having the building in the county saves time and money by not having firefighters go outside of the area for training, Sattizahn said. There are 102 fire companies in Schuylkill County.

Money from the Schuylkill County Commissioners pays for training that is done through the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association. Schuylkill County First responders are also eligible for free training. Noncounty organizations or emergency personnel can visit the website schcountytrainingacademy.com for more information.

Sattizahn said the interior of the building is laid out like homes firefighters would see countywide.

“Schuylkill County is known for its row homes,” he said.

The building has nine “burn rooms.” Areas of the building can be replaced without compromising its integrity, Sattizahn said.

“We try to keep it at 1,200 (degrees). That will extend the life of the building,” said Pottsville Fire Chief James E. Misstishin Sr., who is also the curriculum coordinator, a member of the Schuylkill County Volunteer Firefighters Association and adjunct state fire instructor.

Fire is contained to a metal crib area. Four wooden pallets are set ablaze.

“We only burn two rooms at a time,” Misstishin said.

A lot of personnel are needed when the live fire trainings occur. The last burn was Nov. 13 and had 20 participants, he said.

“On a typical year, we would probably do four burns,” he said.

This year, two fire exercises were planned, but “we didn’t do anything because of COVID,” Misstishin said.

Misstishin said he will schedule a live burn in October or November. Soot was visible on the walls Thursday. Misstishin said fire brick in the burn rooms protects the floors and special ceiling tiles do the same for the ceiling. Burn rooms have ceiling and wall sensors. Fire conditions are monitored from another area on site. Fires are not permitted in the attic, unlike the original building, to prolong its life.

“Each burn, start to finish, is 30 to 45 minutes, Misstishin said.

Misstishin is still teaching an entry-level firefighting class, “Essentials,” on the grounds of the center.

“This is what saves lives in Schuylkill County,” Sattizahn said.