KINGSTON – After two years of talking, planning, some debate, and escalating cost, the Ulster County Legislature unanimously and enthusiastically approved bids for an enhanced fire training center
The new plan calls for a three-story live-burn tower in the Town of Ulster. What happens there will merge with training at two other locations, and in the classroom at SUNY Ulster.
Highland firefighter Fred DeMaio said this is what firefighters in 2020 must have.
“Fire behavior has changed and teaching that behavior requires facilities and training areas that change with the times. It’s essential that we have a modern training facility in Ulster County to maintain our ability to protect our citizens and ourselves.”
DeMaio called this a “ground-up proposal” and said the new facility, expected to be ready sometime next year, will provide training much more realistic to actual conditions in fighting a structure fire.
Several other firefighters joined the chorus calling for approval.
Association of Fire Districts of Ulster County President Carole Preziosi said it “is long overdue.”
Democrat David Donaldson, a former legislature Chairman voiced his full support.
“Yes, it’s going to cost a lot more but we have to do this,” Donaldson said. “There’s no if, ands or buts about it. It’s time for it.”
Another former chairman, Republican Ken Ronk, agreed.
“I’m thrilled that we’re finally going to make a county fire training center a reality for them,” Ronk said, noting that firefighters first started talking about the need for this perhaps 30 years ago.
The legislature also approved bonding of up to $6.24 million to cover the county’s share of the cost.
The original estimate was about $4 million but bids came in well over that.
