Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Sunday marked the next chapter that will allow firefighters, police and other first responders to prepare for emergencies without leaving Carbon County.

The rain also didn’t stop various fire companies, law enforcement agencies, elected officials, friends and family from gathering on the Broad Mountain in Nesquehoning to ring in and celebrate the nearly complete Emergency Operations Training Center.

The $10 million center has been in the works for over a decade.

Fittingly, the new center was named after a firefighter with over a half century of experience, who was a driving force for the project.

The Carbon County Firemen’s Association officially named the new center after Commissioners’ Chairman Wayne E. Nothstein.

Nothstein, serving his sixth term in office - the longest serving county commissioner in Carbon County history, has also served as a firefighter in Lehighton for most of his life and knows the challenges emergency responders face in emergencies and training.

John McArdle, president of the Carbon County Fire Chief’s Association and Carbon County Firemen’s Association, and fire chief for Nesquehoning Hose Company No. 1, read the history behind the center that now stands proudly along Public Safety Lane - from the first training building in Lehighton, to the complex that would benefit first responders for decades to come.

He welcomed master of ceremonies, former Carbon County Commissioner William O’Gurek.

O’Gurek, who was on the board when the project was announced in February 2015, commended all the agencies involved in the project.

“I was thinking, there can’t be any county that compares to this one in the source of dedication that we have in our fire service and emergency personnel,” he said. “I truly commend each and every one of you. ... This is the day we dedicated a gift to you and to the people of Carbon County to make us safer, to keep us safe for a long time and to keep the county one of the best ever.”

O’Gurek recognized several municipal, county and state officials in attendance who helped make this dream a reality.

State Sens. John Yudichak and David Argall, and Rep. Doyle Heffley have all supported the project, securing over $1.4 million.

“Carbon County, a community with deep roots and a rich tradition in emergency service organizations, makes good on its pledge for a safer future with the construction of the Carbon County Emergency Operations Training Center,” Yudichak said. “(It is) a living, functioning monument to the greatness of the American Spirit and a true reflection of the respect and admiration the citizens of Carbon County have for the first responders who keep our community safe. Simply put, this state-of-the-art facility would not have been built without the steadfast determination of Commissioner Wayne Nothstein, who has been a first responder here in Carbon County for over 50 years. Congratulations to you and your fellow commissioners, both past and present, who were persistent in your commitment to ensure our first responders got a first class place to train.

“It is a dream come true for our first responders.”

Argall and Heffley echoed Yudichak’s thoughts.

“I remember when this project was in its infancy,” Argall said. “My first thought was good luck finding all that money. But Wayne, you and the boards of commissioners, both past and present, never gave up ... and that made all the difference.”

“You never know what they’re going to experience when they get to a scene ... so that’s why this training facility is so important,” Heffley said. “And why we worked so hard to help Wayne get this done.”

O’Gurek introduced Nothstein, who first started talking about creating a centralized training facility in 2008.

“This is a very difficult day to see something like this happen after so many years,” Nothstein said. “... It was always a dream and finally, here we sit looking at this building.”

He said he feels guilty that the building was being dedicated to him because it wasn’t just him who made this a reality. He commended his fellow first responders, the boards of commissioners, various agencies and officials and the construction teams for making this a reality.

“It started in 2008 with a vision ... It’s about them, the first responders. It’s about these committee members that saw the value in something like this and know the importance of training. You don’t send a doctor into an operating room without training. You don’t send a soldier to war without training. No one just steps into a field and knows how to do those things. You can’t train by entering a burning building. It’s too late then.

“It’s about the safety of the firefighter, ensuring that they know what is going on.”

Remarks were also made by Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner Charles J. McGarvey Sr., Carbon County District Attorney Michael Greek and Andrew Rossi of CMG Prime Contractor.

Members of the training committee gathered as Nothstein, donning his firefighter gear, used a Hurst Jaws of Life to cut the handcuffs and hose, officially opening the center for first responders.

Responders have new place to practice