SUWANNEE COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) — After years of waiting, Suwannee Fire Rescue is finally adding the sixth station.
Suwannee County Fire Rescue currently has five stations. Station One in Live Oak is the closest to the north part of the county, but 11 acres of property are about to change that.
"If we have for some reason a train that goes on the track, it can really delay our response to the north end," said Eddie Hand, the Suwannee County Fire Chief.
The train tracks are a major bump in the road and have been slowing down safety for Suwannee County people.
Chief Hand says the tracks have made response time from Station One to the northside of town go anywhere from six to 15 minutes.
With the state's help, the county is adding a sixth fire station to cut the response time in half.
"It'll be a full fire station," Hand said. "We'll have an engine crew and a rescue crew there that is available 24/7 with full fire and EMS response."
The county is receiving a $750,000 grant through the state to build the new station.
Located near I-10, Hand says it will now be the primary location for interstate accidents and a neighborhood safeguard for the increasing population on the northside.
"It's happening right in the area where the station will be built, so it'll also be a much better location for response to that as it grows," said Hand.
The station is expected to be operating by the end of next year.
