This weekend, Butler County will serve as one of the largest hubs for firefighter education in the commonwealth.

The fourth annual Jimmy Ellis Training Weekend is scheduled to take place Thursday through Sunday, Aug. 13 to 16, and is centered at the Pittsburgh Marriott North in Cranberry Township.

The event honors the late Cpt. Jimmy Ellis, a 32-year veteran volunteer firefighter who was vice president of Adams Area Fire District and career firefighter with the City of Pittsburgh.

In addition to a full day of lectures on Friday, the training weekend will feature hands-on activities led by professionals from Pennsylvania and across the nation.

According to Dave Moore, vice president of the Jimmy Ellis Firefighter Foundation, organizers are expecting a total of 329 firefighters from Western Pennsylvania and 16 other states, as well as two from Ontario, Canada.

The number represents significant growth from the first convention and its 60 students. Last year, 189 firefighters were on board.

“It’s not just a local training,” Moore said.

In conjunction with the Butler County Fire Chief’s Association, Moore said Ellis, as a traditional firefighter, “was that guy. It was a huge loss.”

As a boy, Ellis wanted to be a firefighter. He became a master sergeant with the Air National Guard after graduating from Mars Area High School in 1991. He was just 49 years old in 2022 when he died of complications from COVID-19.

Moore said he and others in the firefighter community knew they wanted to keep Ellis’ spirit and activism alive, so they started the Firefighter Foundation and training weekend in his honor.

Ellis was so respected that industry, leaders from all over the country clamored to participate. And in most cases, the experts waived their speaking and training fees — which oftentimes climb into the thousands of dollars — and participate here for transportation, meals and lodging.

The weekend really kicks off Thursday night with staff and instructor meetings, a safety social and keynote speaker Candace Ashby, a 30-year veteran of the Indianapolis Fire Department.

On Friday, the morning starts with Butler County fire officials, a Pipes and Drums ceremony, posting of the colors, as well as keynote speaker and retired New York Fire Department Lt. Ray McCormack.

“He’s an icon,” Moore said.

Also featured is group speaker and 20-year veteran firefighter Kyle Romagus, who teaches engine operations for “several well-known fire service instructor groups including FD Tactics, Brothers in Battle and Oathkeepers Engine Cadre.”

Later in the day, several other speakers will take the podium for informational and teaching sessions. Some 289 firefighters have signed up for the day.

Moore said they’ve “changed up” lecture day a bit, as it became too much for some. This year, there will be seven speakers, some of which will have 90-minute sessions, and a loose “Power Hour” where four speakers will occupy 15- to 20-minute blocks to discuss whatever they’d like.

The day closes with a social. There will be more than two dozen merchandise tables featuring the latest in firefighter accessories, like advancements in turnout gear and UPMC’s prehospital care information booth.

Over the weekend, there are 27 training classes spread across 12 different sites in Butler and Allegheny counties. Moore noted firefighters will travel to Mt. Lebanon for their training facility.

Organizers have identified five “acquired structures,” including buildings on Franklin Road in Cranberry Township, as well as the VA Butler Healthcare fire training facility in Butler Township. There will also be vehicle extractions and hot classes, including fire hoses and other equipment.

Saturday night concludes with another session for networking and relaxation.

“It’s a good way to get everyone together,” Moore said.

On Sunday there’s a four-hour hot class session, lunch and another four-hour work session. All participants who finish their duties will receive a Jimmy Ellis Training Weekend certification.

While the Ellis Foundation training seminar isn’t as large as the weeklong “FDIC International: The Best Firefighter Conference,” it has quickly become the largest of its kind in Western Pennsylvania.

“We model ours after FDIC,” Moore said. “It’s the biggest one in our region that we know of.”

Registration closed about two weeks ago so organizers could get an idea of how many people are attending. The Ellis Foundation “hasn’t ever made a dime” on the event, Moore said. They look to defray costs with donations from individuals and organizations. There are 68 sponsors that help to keep the event affordable.