A 35-foot high, concrete training tower for firefighters in Baer Memorial Park in Lehighton was razed on Tuesday.

The drill tower is owned by the Carbon County Fireman's Association. It likely won't be replaced; at least not on the existing site.John McArdle, president of the Carbon County Fireman's Association and fire chief in Nesquehoning, said the planning process will begin to construct a new training facility.A new training facility could cost in excess of $1 million to build, he said.Several sites are being eyed as potential locations for a new training center, including an area in Nesquehoning near the Carbon County Correctional Facility.The training tower was especially useful for training firefighters on the use of ladders, rescue techniques, the attack on an interior fire and other important facets of firefighting.For some of the training, firefighters might have to go outside the local area until a new site is built, which could take several years.The tower was used not only by firefighters from throughout Carbon County but also by firefighters from surrounding areas for training.The demolition was the result of an inspection done by Carbon Engineering Inc. of Summit Hill last year.McArdle said firefighters noticed the base of the stairwell was beginning to rust, prompting the inspection.Wayne Nothstein, a longtime association member and former chief of the Lehighton Fire Department, said the structure had a steel skeleton and block shell. He said there were areas where the concrete was so deteriorated that you could see through the walls to the outside.The tower was built in the 1960s.The engineering report stated, "The condition of the structure is serious. The structural integrity of the floor and roof joists has been compromised and is beyond repair. The concrete block masonry units are in serious condition and unstable."The recommendation of the engineer was to demolish the building and construct a new one.Both McArdle and Nothstein said the association doesn't have the funds to immediately build a new training facility and are hoping to obtain donations or grants.