Clark State Community College’s fire training program students will have a new fire engine to enhance their education thanks to the generosity of the Springfield Township Fire Department. In exchange for the donation, the fire department will receive 15 scholarships for department members to continue their education. The presentation will take place on Tuesday, June 4, 2013 at 5:30 at the Fire Tower on the Leffel Lane Campus in Springfield.
“The donation of this engine will enable the College to retire one of our two existing engines that has more than 260,000 miles on it,” said Steve Goheen, Clark State’s fire training coordinator. “The donated engine only has 36,000 miles and will benefit our students for many years to come.”
“On behalf of the Springfield Township Trustees, we are pleased to be able to support the fire training program at Clark State by transferring ownership of the fire truck to Clark State,” said Jim Scoby, president, Springfield Township Trustees. “The transfer of ownership is a win for Clark State, Springfield Township and all of Clark County. This vehicle would have been sent to the salvage yard, but now it will help Clark State continue to grow their fire training program.”
Clark State has seen tremendous growth in its fire training program since receiving its fire training charter from the State of Ohio in December 2007. More than sixteen counties surrounding the Miami Valley are working with the College to provide basic fire and rescue training. In addition, the College is providing urban search and rescue training for the local Ohio Air National Guard base. Clark State currently owns and operates a smaller fire tower located on the Ohio Hi-Point Career Center’s campus in Bellefontaine.
Over the last year, the fire program has trained 270 new and current firefighters in need of continuing education. In May 2012, Clark State dedicated the state-of-the-art four-story tactical training tower to serve firefighters in a 16-county radius. The tower has enabled Clark State to offer training that is fully compliant with State requirements as well as expand current fire training offerings.