Wanda English Burnett, Editor

Personnel from Versailles Fire and Rescue had the distinct honor of having the Versailles Training Facility designated an Official Indiana Firefighter Training Center on Tuesday, October 14 when executives from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) made a stop at the site.

In making the declaration, Joseph Wainscott Jr., executive director of the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, noted that the designation came about due to those involved with the site being willing to share and work together with a number of departments. “That’s the key,” he noted, saying they brought others in for training, shared knowledge, resources and talents.

The Versailles Training Facility is the primary fixed site for District 9, which is comprised of 12 counties: Ripley, Switzerland, Franklin, Decatur, Dearborn, Jennings, Ohio, Jefferson, Scott, Clark, Floyd, and Harrison.

The second big announcement was a check for $100,000 presented to Versailles Fire and Rescue from the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. Wainscott noted that $2M had been earmarked to help fire departments with training since Governor Daniels took office. He said the Governor supported the efforts to get additional training for firefighters and urged the IDHS to “get it done.”

Ben Sieverding, assistant chief of the Versailles Fire and Rescue, is the District 9 training coordinator for the facility. At the Tuesday presentation, he thanked the IDHS saying, “We appreciate all your efforts...improvements (to the facility) couldn’t be done without money.” He said some of the money would be used for needed concrete and gravel. He further noted that future plans include a ventilation system. He also said the training facility was not only used by firefighters, but also police and EMS.

Sieverding said the recent grant money will be used to enhance and add to the current facility in Versailles that will give firefighters the ability to learn and practice skills used during daily operations.

DeeDee Benkie, representing the Versailles Town Council, noted that the volunteer firemen “go over and above” to do their job. “They’re all volunteers here and I’m very proud of what they do,” she noted.

Steve Walters, fire training counsel with the IDHS, noted that this facility was “the most used training tower around.” He said he had visited some that were practically like new after a year of existence. Not this facility. “It gets a lot of use and that’s what we like to see,” he noted. It was noted that the Versailles site was the model of “using and sharing”.

Sieverding noted that the District 9 Training Council has 41 firefighter certification programs scheduled for this fiscal year. “This training will be provided free of charge to firefighters throughout the district, thanks to a initiative sponsored by Governor Daniels,” noted Sieverding.

“It is critically important that firefighters receive regular and consistent basic training courses,” said Wainscott. “With training centers close by, fire departments have more opportunities to improve their individual and collective skills.”

Firefighters wanting more information about District 9 activities can email Sieverding at bensieverding@yahoo.com.

WANDA ENGLISH BURNETT PHOTO Pictured from left are: Joseph Wainscott, executive director for Indiana Department of Homeland Security, as he presented a check for $100,000 to Versailles Fire & Rescue; DeeDee Benkie, representing the Town of Versailles; Versailles Fire Chief, Tracy Moore, and Assistant Chief, and District 9 Training Coordinator, Ben Sieverding. The Versailles Training Facility was designated an official training site at the same presentation made on Tuesday, October 11.