VIDEO: An old hospital is getting new life while helping retain and recruit firefighters.
The Vermont Fire Academy is based in Pittsford which can be up to two hours away from many fire departments across the state. The distance has made it difficult for firefighters to get the necessary training and hard to incentivize them to attend optional ones.
To help decrease the commute time and encourage more attendance, the Vermont Fire Academy has opened dorms. What once was a hospital to treat tuberculosis patients and then an administrative building is now a brand new dorm for firefighters, ready for use at just the right time.
“If we can take down the barriers to receiving that training, providing better access to the campus does that so hopefully we can help with that recruitment effort by making it easier for people to get their training,” said Micahel Scaza, the Vermont Fire Academy’s acting chief of training.