FARMINGTON – The Board of Selectmen gave approval Tuesday night for Town Manager Richard Davis to sign a lease agreement between Regional School Unit 9 and the town, representing the Farmington Fire Department.
The agreement will be one of the first official steps toward the establishment of the Western Maine Public Safety Training Facility, which will be located on a piece of RSU9 property near Mt. Blue High School.
“This is a pretty interesting cooperative agreement between a school district and a municipality,” selectman Stephen Bunker commented.
Local public safety officials have said the facility is a much needed resource, not just locally but across the state. There are only seven statewide training sites for firefighting and even less for law enforcement. In addition, the site would be utilized daily by students in the firefighting program at the Foster Career and Technical Education Center.
“The fire service is hurting for personnel. In order to get trained people you have to have the facility to train them. With our high school program it would really be a big help,” Fire Chief Terry Bell said.
Currently students in the fire program at FTCEC practice their skills on the pavement outside of their classroom- dodging other students to the best of their ability, while simultaneously filling the second floor windows with smoke or exhaust from the trucks. With a fully established training facility in their backyard, students could practice real life scenarios without bothering their peers.
A planning committee consisting of local public safety personnel as well as representatives from Mt. Blue Campus have received several donations for the project, and are waiting to hear back from a grant application submitted to the state.
This is a VERY positive move for protection services in the Greater Franklin County area. The Foster Tech Firefighter program has been training firefighters since 2001 and I am proud to be a part of a wonderful program for our towns and the firefighting students.
We are fortunate to be a part of Mt Blue Campus and indeed we are in a beautiful school with some very nice resources. We also deal with some limitations and numerous conflicts. When I see pictures of this training site and imagine the firefighter class doing daily drills just away from the school and out of sight with safe proper resources, I can’t help but be amazed at the opportunity.
Foster Tech started the first firefighter program at a high school level and has continued to provide worthwhile cooperative programming for the local fire departments as well as the students, many of whom have gone on to enjoy excellent and worthwhile career opportunities. This project is another step in helping our school provide educational opportunities to students who will in turn help their communities.
I personally thank the Farmington Board of Selectmen as well as the Farmington Fire Department, the Mount Blue Regional School District, and the dozens of supporting Fire Departments, Police Departments, Fire and Police Chiefs, and many many people who are helping to make this happen. This has really been a community project and the community will truly gain from their efforts.
GREAT!!!!!!
SO….who pays for THIS????
Now this is worth spending money eye on. We need fire fighters.
Does the question have to be repeated ???? Who Pays For This ?
What are the total yearly cost ? Where do the expenditures come from
and how are the bills paid for ?
Before we all jump up and down with glee…does the money come from We ?
Sounds like a worthwhile project but let us hear all the details about the $$.
I sure wish they had this stuff when I went to school there. There are fantastic opportunities in public safety all over the state especially for kids with some basic skills. Any students considering further education after high school in the Bangor area that might be interested in a “live-in” position at a progressive, fast paced department could e-mail me at hfdac81@gmail.com. Good luck on your facility!
I knew it would not take long for the naysayers to appear.
Who pays for this? Big question, simplest answer is: Only those who benefit from fire protection services…oops,
all of us benefit from fire protection services!
Maybe we all pay then, either through income tax, property tax, sales tax, etc.
Is this a worthy cause to spend money on? For great training facility for young people, and not so young?
Yes, if you consider protecting life and property a worthwhile cause.
I pretty sure the full bill will be sent directly to NP and The Eagle.Thanks for picking up the tab for everyone’s
public safety. By the way, what an awesome partnership and use of our publicly owned land and departments. What a great idea to place good role models and public safety training within view of a HS! This is exactly the kind of positive thinking and intellegent design we need more of these days.
Last paragraph…. A planning committee consisting of local public safety personnel as well as representatives from Mt. Blue Campus have received several donations for the project, and are waiting to hear back from a grant application submitted to the state….. donations and a grant will fund the build. The plan is that usage fees will fund the maintance.
To Nancy P et al. .. to answer your question .. Who Cares!!! The facility will bring a much needed training venue And other fire departments, etc. to town where they will spend money!!!!
Note for the naysayers…. read Laura’s comment!