Hempfield is planning to build a center that will give township volunteer firefighters a space for hands-on training in their service area.

That will allow firefighters to still respond quickly to emergencies while learning new skills, said Hempfield Fire Chief Anthony Kovacic.

“Having a fixed facility for you all to train and to hone your skills is something that we’re going to continue to move forward,” Kovacic said Saturday during Hempfield’s annual fire forum, attended by about 20 people.

The proposed training facility is part of an ongoing transformation of the township’s fire department.

Hempfield has been working to bring its community volunteer fire departments under one umbrella, referred to as a “nonchartered” process in which they become absorbed into the Hempfield Fire Department. In return, Hempfield manages the station and pays all of its expenses while volunteer firefighters continue to respond to calls.

Last year, each member across all stations did an average of 71 hours of training, according to information presented during the forum. The department had 2,711 calls in 2025.

Some of that training involved firefighters learning how to move tanker trucks in rural areas and elevator rescues. Firefighters can get certified in some aspects, including vehicle and technical rescues. Upcoming training includes confined space rescue.

“It’s not just pulling hoses off a fire engine and applying water to the fire, there’s a lot of technical things that we tackle,” Kovacic said.

Officials hope to bring more opportunities close to home with the proposed training center, which is expected to be located at Station 501, the former North Hempfield station.

Township manager Aaron Siko said $450,000 has been allocated in the 2026 capital improvement plan for the modular building. A borrowing plan is being formulated this year and construction could start in 2027.

“Having something that is centrally located provides us some additional training opportunities,” he said.

Township firefighters use the Westmoreland County Community College’s Public Safety Training Center in South Huntingdon, which has a building used for fire simulations. There’s no plan to replicate that site, Kovacic said, but rather offer space for hands-on training of the basics of firefighting.

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