WASC September 2023 - Wayne County Fire & Rescue AssociationRegional Training Center Tour
The Wayne County Fire & Rescue Association Regional Training Facility got its start in 1987 when a group of WCFRA Firefighters wanted to improve local fire training. Their goal was to have a facility where area Fire Departments could send members to train with equipment, props, and buildings that would qualify as a first-rate fire training program. The WCRTF was officially in operation in 1992 when the Survival Maze was completed. Today, the Facility spans 60 acres and contains 12 buildings used for training and storage.
Wooster Area Safety Council will meet on Wednesday, September 20 to tour and learn more about how the facility is used to train first responders in the area. Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the oil and gas area, which is used to host classes in partnership with the Ohio Natural Energy Institute; watch the Wooster Division of Fire complete one of their training scenarios at the Kirila Burn Building; tour the Grain Bin building to see the new farm rescue training area; and tour the survival maze, which is used to build the confidence of new firefighters as they maneuver through obstacles with limited or no vision, similar to an actual fire.
WASC will hear from a variety of staff members throughout the session. Bob Ballentine, retired Chief from Orrville Fire Department, who was the first full time Chief for Orrville and is a fire instructor at the training facility. Ron Browning, who is a retired Chief from Chippewa Township in Wayne County and is a fire instructor as well as a fire safety inspector instructor. He also assists in the EMS classes. Mark DelPropost is a retired Chief from Wooster Township. Although he is no longer a fire instructor, Mark is actively involved in the training facility's day-to-day operations. Patty Glessner is an Advanced EMT and an EMS instructor for the facility and also is the clinical coordinator for the EMT and Advanced EMT courses where she coordinates the students ride time with local fire department squads and clinical time students need at local hospital Emergency Departments. Dick Glessner is a past Chief of the Sterling Fire District and is currently the Assistant Director of the Training Facility. He is also a fire instructor and assists with EMS classes. The Executive Director is Asst. Chief Nathan Murphy from Wooster Division of Fire and he will be on the grounds training at the Kirila burn building.
Bob Ballentine, Mark DelPropost, Dick Glessner and Nathan Murphy are on the board that governs the Training Facility. Other board members include Chief Dallas Terrell from Wooster Township FD, Chief Josh Martell from South Central Fire District (Fredericksburg), Chief Brandon Smith from Canaan Township FD, and Lt. Kristen Priest Brockway from Wooster Division of Fire.
Date and Time
Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
11:30 AM - 1:00 PM EDT
Location
Wayne County Fire & Rescue Association Regional Training Facility 2725 Millborne Rd, Apple Creek, OH 44606
Fees/Admission
Chamber Member WASC Ticket - $20
Non-Chamber Member WASC Ticket - $25
Contact Information
Michelle Rothgery, Communications & Office Coordinator
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