Ladder Training Ground Planned for Coopersburg Fire Dept.

Coopersburg Fire Chief Kevin Farnish discussed plans this week for a training ground on the borough municipal site between Charles and Cherry streets to allow firefighters to practice laying ladders on buildings.

The site, consisting of utility poles with multiple levels and a roof, would allow firefighters to practice throwing ladders onto buildings.

“It’s really important for our guys to be able to throw ladders and be efficient at it,” Farnish said at Monday's council workshop.

Coopersburg firefighters can currently practice ladder training only at sites in Emmaus and Allentown. A borough site would keep firefighters close.

“It’s beneficial to firefighters, and again, keeps us local to do training,” Farnish said during follow-up phone call.

The utility poles would simulate different levels of a building, teaching firefighters how to use the ladders as possible escape routes and allowing them to train with firehoses, Farnish said.

“There are times when firemen have to carry hoses up ladders. There’s more to it than just using it for ‘Oh, we're just going to lean ladders against it.’ Sometimes firemen have to take a hose to a second or third floor. They have to practice carrying the hose up the ladder,” Farnish said.

Before a proposal is made to Council, Farnish will have to make sure the borough municipal site will have the available amount of space.

“I haven’t been over to see if there’s some kind of room available,” Farnish said.

If the proposal is approved the fire company will have to ask utility companies, PPL or AT&T, if they would be able to donate or sell poles for the site, he added.

The fire chief plans to present the proposal at the official meeting in June.

"I’d like to try and get it back and see if they would present it at the June 19 meeting rather than waiting until July. It’ll be welcome at any point in time," Farnish said. "The sooner we get it [approved], the sooner we can get in touch with getting it completed.”