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Mid-Town – The Evans Center Volunteer Fire Company is fortunate and proud to have their very own on-site training center. Located behind their Station #1, Evans Center's H.O.T. (Hands-On Training) Zone boasts some of the finest state-of-the-art facilities available in the area.
Recognizing the need for locally accessible training facilities, initial construction for the training site began in 1990 under the leadership of then-Chief John Latimore. Seeing the need for quality training as a priority, Evans Center simply reallocated existing property behind their assembly hall. This area previously housed a concession stand and pavilion once used during the fire department's annual carnivals and other fund-raisers. The training area spans almost an acre.
The entire H.O.T. Zone is secured by a perimeter chain link and barbed wire fence with gates at both ends to create drive-through "Main St. - Evans Center" firefighting scenarios.
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| This
sign welcomes participants to the H.O.T. Zone |
Looking in through the front gates, the roof simulator is to the left and the firefighter survival building is on the right | This roof ventilation simulator is sided and shingled thanks to a local building supply house. It features a ladder hanger, plywood storage space and a door and windows for forcible entry practice at the rear. Plywood inserts are replaced at the top of the roof after each cutting session. | |
Since then, the facility has been fenced in and equipped with a ventilation/forcible entry simulator, several mobile home trailers and vehicles for practicing extrication and car fires. The first mobile home trailer donated to the facility was used for several years for search and rescue training. In March of 2000, that trailer was leveled in a live burn exercise to make room for newer trailers being donated to the fire company. Firefighters were able to put their new-found skills to the test later that same day.
Each year the Lake Shore Central School District auctions off out-of-services buses, they appropriate a bus to the Evans Center Training Facility for bus extrication training. Last fall, State Fire Instructor Bob Newell provided Evans Center Volunteers with classroom and hands-on bus rescue training over three weekly sessions.
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| School buses from Lake Shore Central Schools and cars donated by Pinto's Collision keep firefighters trained for the next vehicle rescue or fire | This two-story 20'x20' building is designed to assist in teaching firefighters self-survival techniques | The Survival Building was designed by John Latimore and built with donated materials by Evans Center Volunteers like (l-r) Mike Hontz, Pat Murphy and Charlie Klepfer III | This is one of two mobile home trailers now in the training facility that are donated by Triton Valley Estates - a local mobile home park hosting hundreds of trailers |
The newest structure in the facility is a two-story 20 ft. x 20 ft. Firefighter Survival Center. This building features a second floor cutout and moveable walls to provide the proper setting for firefighters to practice window bail-outs and F.A.S.T. (Firefighter Assist and Safety Team) exercises. Materials for building the house were donated or discounted by local suppliers; and local contractors drop off a steady supply of old windows and doors for practicing forcible entry. The survival center is due to be completed in the spring of 2001 and will be entirely sided and weatherized.
The fire company was pleased to receive a $4,000 grant in the Fall of 2000 thanks to the efforts of Erie County Legislator Jeanne Z. Chase. The grant monies will be used to provide lighting and new fencing to virtually double the physical area of the training facility.
Part of the facility is dedicated in memory of Theresa Latimore, John's mother and a long-time fire department supporter. Several donations were given to enhance the facility when Theresa passed away in the fall of 1999.
The center is the only one of its kind outside of Erie County's three training facilities. Their closest facility is almost 20 miles away, located at Chestnut Ridge Park in Orchard Park. The other two centers are in Cheektowaga and Amherst – 25-35 miles away from Evans Center.
This saves Evans Center volunteers countless hours in travel and preparation time as well as over-the-road operating expenses. Utilizing their own training center makes the best use of volunteers' time and taxpayer dollars. Evans Center offers neighboring fire departments the opportunity to use the facility as needed.
The North Boston Fire Company in Boston NY recently announced an initiative to mimic Evans Center's training model with their own facility, crediting Evans Center with being the leaders in delivering localized hands-on instruction. Evans Center routinely utilizes the experience of State, County and Buffalo Fire Department instructors to offer a quality training experience.
Updated: 12/22/03
