PLYMOUTH MEETING — The Montgomery County Commissioners and the Public Safety and Public Property departments invite the public to join them to break ground on the construction of a new high-rise structural burn building and renovation of the existing burn building used for residential and commercial live-fire training.

The ground breaking ceremony is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Thursday, May 11 behind the Montgomery County Fire Academy at 1175 Conshohocken Road in Plymouth Township.

A steering committee consisting of Fire Advisory Board members, fire officers, public safety and public property officials determined the need for the restoration of the existing building, constructed in 1984, and a new four-story addition.

Instructors set fires in the steel and concrete buildings using pallets and straw to give firefighters and rescue personnel realistic conditions to train in.

The Montgomery County Fire Academy is located at the Montgomery County Public Safety Training Campus and trains over 19,000 students a year with 819 classes.

For additional information, contact: Thomas Sullivan, Montgomery County Director of Public Safety, 610-631-6500.