Campaign Starts for Safety Training Center

A campaign is underway to raise almost $3 million to complete funding for a new Chester County Public Safety Training Center. The center would allow first responders with different responsibilities like firefighters, police, EMT's, and ambulance corps staffs to train together in a coordinated effort "under one roof."

Congressman Jim Gerlach's office says $16.2 million has already been raised for the center.  Gerlach was among the dignitaries participating in a kick-off ceremony last week at in Tredyffrin.

A email newsletter from Gerlach's office describes the project and the event this way:

On Friday, Jim joined emergency responders, public officials and members of of the Chester County Public Safety Training Center Foundation during a kickoff ceremony at Shire Pharmaceuticals in Tredyffrin Township for a fundraising campaign aimed at raising the final $2.9 million needed for the project.

"Everyone involved in this effort deserves credit for their hard work and dedication to ensuring our emergency responders are among the best-trained in the state," Jim said.

"This facility would allow our emergency responders to train under the same conditions they would face responding to a burning building or confronting an armed suspect. Training like that will help keep the emergency responders safe and the communities they serve better protected." 

Foundation members also noted that the training center would allow police, emergency medical services and firefighters to train together.

Approximately 5,000 emergency responders handle roughly 800 calls per day throughout Chester County.