LOGAN, W.Va. -- The Logan Fire Department on Thursday became the first of 60 fire stations across West Virginia to operate a public computer lab offering free broadband access and basic computer skills training to anyone.

Ten computers and workstations, each equipped with webcams and connected to a printer, will be installed in each of the 60 fire stations. A laptop and big-screen LED also will be standard components in each lab. Trained mentors will be on hand to help those who are new to personal computing learn how to navigate the Internet.

Twenty of the computer labs are scheduled to open by the end of this year, mostly in Southern West Virginia, with the remaining 40 labs to be added during the following two years.

A $4.4 million federal stimulus grant for the program was awarded to the Future Generations Graduate School in Pendleton County through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

"Among hundreds of applications, this one quickly rose to the top," said Anthony Wilhelm, director of the Broadband Technology Opportunities Program, who was on hand for Thursday's opening ceremony. Housing the computer labs in fire halls and training mentors from the community to help broadband newcomers learn how to use them "was an innovative approach," Wilhelm said. "In the years to come, this program should make a lasting difference."

State Fire Marshal Sterling Lewis said the computer labs "will help us return to the days when the fire department was the hub of a community." He said the labs also will help firefighters and rescue squad personnel take part in remote training programs now being developed by the state, saving thousands of dollars in travel costs to receive certification.

"The location of these computer labs will make them a success," said Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.Va., who also took part in Thursday's opening ceremony. "Everyone knows where their fire department is. It's a place people feel comfortable going to. . . . Getting training from mentors from the community will also make this program work."

Rahall said the program would help tear down "the digital divide that separates the quality of Internet service urban and rural areas."

 A recent Future Generations Graduate School survey of households in 26 communities to be served by the new program during its first year showed that 49.5 percent of households subscribe to a broadband provider, compared with the national average of 63 percent.

The program is designed to train more than 37,000 people and add more than 12,700 households and businesses to broadband during the life of the project.

Another component of the program involves the refurbishing of surplus computers from government agencies and other sources and selling them at low cost. Refurbishing centers are planned at Huntington and at the former Circleville High School building in Pendleton County.

Charleston-based Tltek LLC is installing the computer labs. Its president, Timothy Tyler, said American-made components are used whenever possible.

Fire departments in which the computer labs will be installed include Logan, Cora and Buffalo Creek in Logan County; Mabscott, Bradley-Prosperity and Ghent, Raleigh County; Meadow Bridge and Mount Hope, Fayette County; Mullens and Upper Laurel, Wyoming County; Gary, McDowell County; Williamson, Matewan and Gilbert, Mingo County; Madison and Wharton-Barrett, Boone County; Morrisvale, Lincoln County; Bartow-Durbin-Frank and Cass, Pocahontas County; Upper Tract, South Fork, Franklin and Circleville, Pendleton County; Maysville, Grant County; Moorefield and Mathias-Baker, Hardy County; Flatwoods, Braxton County; and the Gilmer County Volunteer Fire Department in Glenville.

Reach Rick Steelhammer at rsteelham...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-5169.