Being a firefighter takes a lot of training. They take all sorts of classes on new techniques and strategies and the hazards they face every day, but they need weekly practice to keep their skills high. They simulate many different types of scenarios; however that cannot replace real live training. Brian Polmanteer, owner of T&R Towing gave the fire department that opportunity.
Brian purchased the properties which are about 4 acres in
total that used to be home to a car dealership, Dr. Paddocks Veterinary Clinic
and a building that was once used by the NYS Environmental Conservation
Department all located between the Tops market and the Super 8 Motel on W.
Morris Street in the Village of Bath by Exit 38. His plans are to demolish all
the buildings on the properties, take care of any environmental issues they
might find and clear the land to make it available for anyone looking for
commercial property to develop a business to help the community of Bath and
help the tax base in the Village. Demolition is planned to start this week.
He approached the Bath Volunteer Fire Department to see if
they would like to use it for training of any type before the demolition. Of
course the department jumped at the rare opportunity and over several weeks
held drills on both the vet clinic and the former car dealership buildings.
Each week was something different. They used the aerial ladder to access the
roof, used saws and axes to do roof ventilation as would be needed if it were
on fire to ventilate the dangerous gases, smoke and heat so crews could go interior
to extinguish the fire. Search and rescue teams went in looking for victims as
if there were a fire and pulling hose lines thru the building. The building
also had a lot of doors which gave firefighters chances to use different
methods to breach doors and types of doors to access a building and rooms in
the case of a fire or rescue.
The Bath Volunteer Fire Department wants to thank Brian
Polmanteer for giving them the buildings for their training purposes and for
all the support and generosity he continuously gives them. Also for his thought
and pride he has for the community of Bath and trying to make it a better place
to live.
John Conrad Sr.
Public Information Officer
The Bath Volunteer Fire Dept.
