Westmoreland officials suit up to get firsthand look at emergency services

Westmoreland County Commissioner Sean Kertes has had to extinguish a lot of small political fires in his first term, but admitted Friday was the first time he ever entered a burning building.

“I’ve never even worn this type of fire gear before,” Kertes said minutes after going through the decontamination process after exiting the burn building at the Westmoreland County Community College’s public training center in South Huntingdon.

Kertes joined state Reps. Leslie Rossi, a Unity Republican, and Eric Davanzo, a South Huntingdon Republican, several area legislative aides and community college officials in donning full firefighter gear — including 40-lb. self-contained breathing apparatus — for a whirlwind hands-on demonstration of the work of a first responder.

About a dozen volunteers, including the elected officials, entered the practice burn building, doused an exterior fire and learned about responding to a hazardous materials scene under the guidance of area first responders.

It was the safety center’s first “Fire Service Enlightenment Day” taught by community college staff at the training center, state firefighting trainers, area first responders and Westmoreland County Department of Public Safety staff.

“When we were in that (burning) building, we were in a controlled situation. Then you think of what a real situation would be like with things popping, tipping over all around you as you move around,” Rossi said. “You gain an appreciation for what these first responders do having to make split-second decisions that could save peoples’ lives.”

Rossi said participating in the several- hour hands-on demonstrations with the expertise of first responders there to assist and answer questions will provide her with a better understanding when formulating policies and funding emergency service needs.

“This is a great opportunity,” she said.

Davanzo, who sponsored the event, said the demonstration “shows us what happens in the front lines when firefighters respond to an emergency call and why certain gear is necessary.”

He said it enables government leaders who provide funding for public safety to get “a much different perspective” of emergency services.

“This is heavy. These clothes, gloves, pants and coat and helmet are a lot heavier than the self-contained breathing apparatus,” Kertes said as he pointed to the 40-pound air tank on his back.

Kertes was assisted in putting on the gear by Gene Good and Chris Tantlinger of the county’s department of public safety.

“It’s really a great educational experience for us all,” Kertes said as he began removing gear after spending 10 minutes inside the fire demonstration building in full gear and proceeding through decontamination protocols.

“It really shows the fortitude and dedication of our volunteers. It’s amazing,” he said.

Cory Snyder, a Mt. Pleasant firefighter and state fire instructor at the facility, said he and Marc Jackson, the public safety center’s director, have talked for years about having a fire service enlightenment day for legislators, and he is glad it finally came to fruition.

“It’s a quick walk-through today of what we do when we go in, but at least they’ll have an idea of why we need this or that equipment,” Snyder said.

Davanzo said he hopes to return to the 167-acre facility this fall as host of a legislative committee hearing on emergency services policy.