The schedules of the 30 Penn State students who work as firefighters at the Alpha Fire Co. might be a little more flexible when a new fire training facility is finished by August 2007 in Spring Township along Harrison Road.

"Right now, we have to travel to Bucks County or Lewistown for training," Justin Shirey (graduate-aerospace engineering), a firefighter, said.

Currently, the closest training site is the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy in Lewistown, about 30 miles away. For Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and police, no close facility exists, Randy Rockey, Centre County emergency management agency director said.

As a Penn State student and firefighter at the Alpha Fire Co., 400 W. Beaver Ave., Mike Vanadia (senior-civil engineering) said time is not "easily accessible," so having a closer training site will make a significant difference to schedules.

Traveling to the State Academy is usually an all-day affair that involves moving equipment to the site. A close training site will cut hours off the trip, he added.

Firefighter Jeff Jumper (senior-meteorology) said it is always important to have a training site, and having one in the area shows that the county views training firefighters as important.

"People who are involved with the fire company are usually good with time management ... but having a closer site will definitely be nice," he said.

Nicole Cox (sophomore-crime, law and justice and political science), a firefighter, said that by having a facility nearby, the training will be more hands-on, and firefighters will be able to interact with each other better.

"I'm looking forward to the experience. Actually having a facility to practice finding victims and putting out fires would be helpful," she added.

Rockey said the site, which took 10 years to develop, will be open at no cost for fire companies and emergency service groups, such as police and public work personnel in Centre County. A Centre County training facility on Big Hollow Road was used until 1997, he added.

Since 1997, the local companies have been using other sites, such as local buildings scheduled for demolition, for practice between the state academy trips.

The fire company uses vacant apartments in Graduate Circle for practical exercises, Steven Triebold, EHS Fire Prevention and Protection Program manager, said.

Triebold, who is also an assistant chief at the fire company, said county fire training requires 160 hours of practical exercises for every firefighter.

The site will be more accessible and will increase the number of times that emergency groups can train to maintain skills, learn life safety and receive certifications, he added.

Tyrone Parham, assistant director of University Police, said Penn State police also plan to use the facility. "It would be ideal to have the proper training facility where we can simulate incidents and train people properly," he said.