Grill of fire engine with American flag

Fire Department

Training Facility

For several years, the Mt. Lebanon Fire Department has been trying to erect a training facility within the Municipality to make better use of volunteer time, improve training for members, and ultimately, ensure a high level of service to residents and property owners in the event of a significant fire and/or rescue emergency.

Preliminary approval for this project was granted by the Planning Board at its regular meeting on March 21, 2023. To maintain transparency and ensure our residents that we will take every precaution to limit any potential disruptions to their daily lives, we have put together the following list of Frequently Asked Questions:

Where will the facility be located?

The training facility will be located at 1250 Lindendale Drive, on the public works property, between the police department shooting range and the cold storage building.

How will the building be constructed?

The building will be constructed of five 40′ x 10′ x 8′ and one 20′ x 10′ x 8′ shipping containers. Over the last several years, the use of shipping containers as fire training buildings has gained wide acceptance because they are both customizable and economical. The buildings are like LEGOS; they are essentially steel blocks that can be linked together in almost any shape or design. The building will be painted to match the existing structures located on the site.

What are the hours that the fire department will use this facility?

The fire department currently trains on the public works property on Monday evenings and some Thursday evenings (weather permitting) between the hours of 6:30 pm and 9:30 pm and on several Saturdays between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. To limit the potential for any noise that would disrupt residents, we will not begin training before 9:00 am and will complete all training by 9:30 pm. If you are not disrupted by the training that currently occurs at the public works facility on Monday evenings, we do not expect that you will notice a significant difference. Occasionally, we will be using power saws or doing forcible entry training that residents may be able to hear; however, this will not occur before 9 am or after 9:30 pm.

What days of the week will the fire department be using the facility?

In a typical year, the fire department is utilizing the Public Works facility approximately eighteen Monday evenings a year and the recruit training program is at the site approximately ten Thursday evenings and eight Saturdays per year. Once again, if you are not disrupted by the training that occurs at the public works facility currently, it is unlikely that you will experience any additional significant disruptions.

How often will the fire department be conducting live-fire training?

It is anticipated that the fire department will conduct live-fire training on two to three Saturdays per year. The primary intent of the fire training facility is not live-fire training, but skill review and enhancement. The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Allegheny County Health Department, and the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy have very strict requirements regarding fire live-fire training for fire departments. Some of these requirements include:

  1. A minimum of 1 week notification of residents located within 400 feet of the facility.
  2. Limit on the types of materials that can be burned to wood pallets, plywood, and straw. No other types of materials can be burned.
  3. Limit on the amount of materials per burn to three pallets, of one pallet and 3 sheets of plywood.
  4. If unfavorable weather conditions (i.e wind, atmospheric pressure) cause the smoke generated by the training to stay low or travel in a direction in which it is detrimental to the community, the training must be stopped and re-scheduled.

What materials are permitted to be burned?

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, the Allegheny County Health Department, and the Pennsylvania State Fire Academy have very strict requirements regarding fire live-fire training for fire departments. The only materials permitted to be burned are wood pallets, plywood, and straw. Synthetic materials, petroleum-based products, fuels, tires, mattresses, etc. are prohibited. Any smoke generated should look and smell like that generated by a recreational fire.

The Mt. Lebanon Fire Department prides itself in being a community-oriented organization and a good neighbor. Taking care of our residents is at the core of our mission and we will continue to work with our residents to have as little impact as possible. We thank you for your continued support so that we may better our community.