Sanford approves funding for new fire station

SANFORD, Fla. — With three fire stations already located in the city of Sanford, firefighters can officially look forward to a fourth location.

City commissioners recently approved the use of the $4 million local government penny infrastructure surcharge for construction.

The department's last fire station was built in 1991, with approximately 32,000 residents living in the city at that time.

“We're getting a little head start, which is a good thing … it's better to get a head start,” Sanford Fire Chief Ronnie McNeal Jr. said.

The station will be built on land at Orlando Sanford International Airport, adjacent to the Boombah Sports Complex.

Currently, Fire Station 32 responds to residential and commercial calls in this area.

McNeal Jr. says there is a lot of construction going on in this area, with more than 100 single-family homes and 150 townhomes being built.

“Our construction of the station should not affect them, as it hinders travel, but it will increase our response times to achieve this,” he said.

McNeal Jr. adds that they have already hired 12 new firefighters to prepare them for the new station and plan to hire six more.

“In 2005, the geographic location of our area has changed significantly over time, so response times have increased because there are more calls for service in that area. So we're looking to add them to station 40 and have them covered. this is moving forward.

Chief McNeal says since December they have been working with the airport on drainage projects that need to be completed as well as other key items before work can begin.

“We’re going to have large, multi-story shopping complexes, so we have to plan,” he said.

They hope to start work by the end of the year.

The new station will be called Station 40.