In this image taken from video, firefighters training in the Butler County Fire School are shown at the Public Safety Training Center burn building on Butler County Community College’s main campus on Saturday, Aug. 17. The three-story building used to train tristate firefighters to save lives and property is undergoing a $76,000 project to replace about 1,150 interior haydite blocks degraded by temperatures ranging from 300 to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. Submitted photo

Butler County fire departments will soon be on the hook for the cost of training future firefighters.

Butler County Community College announced recently that grant funds from the Cranberry Township Community Chest going toward the public safety training facility have been fully allocated, leaving departments responsible for covering future training costs.

According to a release, CTCC, which has been funding training through a grant at BC3 since 2018, allocated the remaining money to the current students enrolled in the spring entry-level training program. Starting on or after May 5, the costs will be the responsibility of departments.

Money from the community chest’s grant funded fire training, ProBoard certifications, the entry-level training program and EMS classes.

“Over the years, this grant has saved the Butler County Fire/EMS Service more than $215,000 in training and certification costs,” Kevan Smith, coordinator of public safety fire/hazmat training, said via release.

According to Smith, the funds originated from a campaign by the community chest for BC3 academic scholarships for volunteer firefighters in Butler County.

“Those funds grew over what was being used for the scholarships, and the fire/hazmat division was given access to the funds,” Smith said. “It was decided the best use of the funds were for firefighters in Butler County to get their entry level firefighting classes, that consist of the classes intro to the fire service, hazmat awareness, fire ground support, exterior firefighter, hazmat operations and interior firefighter. These are the classes firefighters need to become a firefighter that can go inside a burning building.”

According to the release, training conducted at a department’s station will remain free, in accordance with a previous agreement with Butler County Commissioners. Additionally, the public safety training facility can provide invoices and relief funds may be used to cover training expenses.

“I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to CTCC for their continued support of the Butler County Fire/EMS Service over the years,” Smith said.

A schedule and cost for classes offered at BC3’s public safety training facility can be found on the college’s website.