POINCIANA, Fla – Osceola County leaders are celebrating the opening of a much-needed fire station in Poinciana.
During an uncoupling ceremony on Wednesday, Fire Station 85 went into service along Cypress Parkway.
“To the county, it’s going to mean an improvement in the level of service as well as having our first fire station in the Poinciana area,” Osceola County Fire Rescue Chief Larry Collier said.
With the opening, firefighters and paramedics have moved out of the station that was shared with Polk County.
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The temporary home was needed because of the area’s population growth and officials said the new station will improve response times.
“We were losing about three-and-a-half to five minutes responding from Polk County, getting into Osceola County. Then tack on top of that, getting and responding from there,” Collier said.
Station 85 is one part of a multi-step plan to bring more fire services to the Poinciana area.
Commissioner Brandon Arrington said construction of the station was paid for through a fire service fee, which was approved more than a decade ago.
“In Osceola County, we’ve really done our best effort to make sure new development pays for itself and that’s why we instituted a fire fee that helps provide for these new facilities,” Arrington said.
Response times are expected to continue to improve as more fire stations are built over the next several years.
“We’re always behind the eight ball when it comes to local government, but we’re doing our best to make sure that we hold everybody accountable so we can continue to have good roads and helpful fire stations as well,” Arrington said.
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