An important milestone in the Chester County Public Safety Training Facility project was reached on November 23, 2010 when Chester County took ownership of over 92 acres in South Coatesville Borough that was formerly owned by ArcelorMittal Steel.

The property is off Modena Road across the street from the South Coatesville Borough Hall and adjacent to the ArcelorMittal Administrative Resources Center (ARC). Included in the purchase is an approximate 22,000 square foot building that was previously used by ArcelorMittal as the research and development (R&D) and medical building.

The County Commissioners held a kickoff event at the facility today December 8, 2010 at 1pm with apparatus from local Fire Companies, Police and EMS units featured at the event. County representatives on Wednesday crowded into a tight space that will expand to become the long-awaited Chester County Public Safety Training Facility.

"Chester County Commissioner Kathi Cozzone said. "It's incredibly wonderful to see that we are finally at a place where we have a location and are moving along."

Commissioner Terence Farrell explained that the site will also eventually be home to a "burn building" where firefighters will be able to practice fire response under controlled conditions; a search-and-rescue building; a six-story training tower to practice high-rise operations; and a vehicle burn training area.

Commissioner Carol Aichele stressed that almost every emergency response in the county involves cooperation between police, fire and emergency medical services personnel, but various agencies currently have very little opportunity to train together in the county.

Cozzone called the building "one of the most interesting places" she has spoken in as a commissioner.

"The rough and ready state of this building is evidence of the fact that we've just been handed the keys," she added, calling the training center one of the six priority areas identified within the commissioners' strategic plan.

Cozzone finished by saying that development of the facility will begin in late spring 2011.