Clark State Community College dedicated the new Tactical Training Tower (570 East Leffel Lane, Springfield, OH) on Thursday, May 3, 2012, at 10 a.m. Clark State President, Dr. Karen E. Rafinski and the City of Springfield’s Assistant Fire Chief Brian Miller provided a short presentation before the ribbon cutting ceremony and smoke and rappelling demonstrations.
Tactical Training Tower:
- Four stories high to accommodate aerial operation training
- Residential annex
- Two burn floors (on the first and third floors to provide expanded training scenarios)
- Twelve-panel maze system to allow for daily changes to search and rescue scenarios
- Bomb-proof anchors for rope rappelling and rope rescue practice
- Standpipe and sprinkler system to train for sprinkler-protected properties
- Rooftop chop-out for roof ventilation operations
- Bed and stove fire simulator
"Clark State’s response to the local need for a state-of-the-art training facility for first responders and emergency personnel will increase access to continued learning and enhance collaborations between departments," said Dr. Karen Rafinski, president, Clark State. "New firefighters will receive top-notch training close to home."
The facility cost $430,000 to build and is located near the Disaster Recovery Learning Lab on the Leffel Lane Campus. The tower will enable Clark State to offer training that is fully compliant with State requirements as well as expand our current fire training offerings.
Clark State Community College 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 16 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.
Contractors
Engineer: Hoppes Engineering
Geotechnical Engineer: Professional Service Industries, Inc.
General: Wenco, Inc.
Subcontractors/Consultants
Builders Steel Co.
Ernst Concrete
Fire Facilities, Inc.
Urbana Materials
Project Manager: Joseph R. Jackson, Vice President of Business Affairs, Clark State
Owner’s Representatives: Randall Conover, Director, Facilities, Operations and Maintenance, Clark State and Amanda Honeycutt, Director, Grounds, Clark State
Technical Consultant: Steve Goheen, Coordinator, Fire Program, Clark State