$1M firefighter training facility under construction in Antigonish
A new firefighter training facility is under construction in Antigonish to fulfill the growing demand in the community.
Adrian Van de Sande, the chief of the Antigonish County Volunteer Fire Department tells us it’s exciting that the building is now well on its way.
“It’s not an idea on pen and paper anymore,” says Van de Sande. “We’ve acquired the land, we’ve cleared the land, we’ve put our gravel pads in.”
He says they have also purchased some equipment.
What is it?
The Antigonish Area Fire and Rescue Training Centre will be in the Industrial Park in the Lower South River.
The idea came from seeing a need in fire service which now ranges from fighting fires to ice rescues and medical calls.
”Firefighter access to realistic training opportunities is limited to us right now and have been for awhile,” says Van de Sande.
Firefighters will be able to get their level one training, which usually takes about eight months, but it will also give firefighters and junior members and all emergency responders a place to train, learn and build skills close to home.
“When you call 911, you want the best to show up. That’s what we’re working towards. Everybody to have standardized training. Very high-quality training,” explains Van de Sande.
The new facility will also be much cheaper than the school in Halifax.
“It would cost us close to $2,500 per person to go, plus travel, plus rooms,” explains Van de Sande. “They can come to Antigonish and the whole department may be charged $250.”
Fundraising
The facility is going to cost just over $1 million.
So, Van de Sande says, they’ve received about $250 but will look to the community to help get the $750,000 needed with a “very large” fundraising campaign.
“We’ve been slowly working on it the last month or so, but it’s really going to take a kickoff as the summer rolls on,” adds Van de Sande.
He says there are nine chiefs working together on it. So, “it’s a huge thing.”
There will be an open house on June 20 at the Antigonish County Volunteer Fire Department on Beach Hill Road from 12-4 p.m.
