DOVER City Council has given a first reading to a resolution to apply for a grant to construct a live fire training structure next to the planned fire substation on Dublin Drive on the north end of the city.
Dover would be seeking the funds through the Assistance to Firefighters grant program, administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The budget for the facility would not exceed $400,000, with the grant paying 95 percent of the cost.
Fire Chief Russ Volkert told members of council's Safety Committee on Monday that the facility would consist of a series of modular burn rooms with many different layouts. There would also be a three- or four-story outside training tower with stairwells.
"The way they're built, you can evacuate smoke really quickly," he said. "You burn only Class A combustibles, which are pallets and straw and cardboard and so forth, so that it doesn't make particularly noxious smoke and relatively little smoke."
In that location, it wouldn't impact a large area, he said.
The structure would likely serve four or more departments.
Volkert noted that New Philadelphia is applying for the same grant to build a live fire training structure. If both departments receive the grant, that would be great, because New Philadelphia's facility would serve a different group of fire departments than Dover's would.
"If one of us gets it, it's still great," he said.
He also told council members that bids have been opened for the new substation, and it will be built within budget.
In other business at Monday's council meeting, Mayor Richard Homrighausen reminded residents that the annual Dover City Farmer's Market will open at 7:30 a.m. July 12 in Dover City Park, adjacent to Baseball Field No. 1. He encouraged everyone to patronize the market.
Reach Jon at 330-364-8415 or at jon.baker@timesreporter.com.
On Twitter: @jbakerTR