Though the Wesley Chapel space already has three Pasco Fireplace Rescue (PFR) stations in operation — Station No. 13 on Previous Pasco Rd. within the Quail Hole space, No. 26 on Aronwood Blvd. in Meadow Pointe and Station No. 38 on Overpass Rd. in Watergrass — there’s little doubt that the explosive development of Wesley Chapel has created a determined want for extra stations in and round zip codes 33543, 33544 and 33545.
Pasco County has had an indication asserting that PFR Station No. 2 is deliberate on a bit of property on S.R. 54 lower than a mile east of the brand new AdventHealth Meadow Pointe Emergency Room (as we reported about final situation) for a number of years, however now, development has begun on Station No. 2, and the official groundbreaking for the brand new, state-of-the artwork fireplace station was held on the web site at 32134 S.R. 54 on Could 13.
Pasco Fireplace Chief Ryan Guynn, who solely obtained the job as chief six months in the past however has had a 25-year profession with PFR, was clearly thrilled to have the ability to speak concerning the official starting of development on the brand new station (which really had been underneath development for a number of weeks earlier than the precise groundbreaking occasion).
“That is one thing monumental, one thing that’s been a very long time coming for the individuals on this space,” Guynn mentioned earlier than introducing Tim Sewell, the regional director for Florida of Ajax Constructing Firm, which is doing the precise development of the brand new fireplace station.
Ajax is happy to be a part of this fireplace station and that is the second of the package deal that we have now popping out that we’re developing (for PFR Station No. 19 in New Port Richey), so having our individuals tied into the group right here and actually working to construct this facility for the county is further particular.”
Chief Guynn additionally thanked Fleischman Garcia Maslowski, the architectural agency that designed the brand new station (in addition to the brand new Mary W. Sierra Household YMCA in Wesley Chapel), and PFR’s personal services staff “for your whole arduous work placing this collectively.”
Subsequent up was District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman, because the new station is situated in his district.
Weightman mentioned, “The arduous work for this station was finished again in 2019, and the credit score actually goes to the voters who handed the GO (common obligation) bonds again then to assist fund these stations. So, it’s an incredible honor to be on the board and see one of many final remaining GO bond tasks come out of the bottom.
He added, “Station 2 has been desperately wanted and longed for by the residents of Wesley Chapel for a few years and I’m simply excited and comfortable to be in workplace as that is coming to life.”
Comm. Weightman (above proper) additionally launched Dist. 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano, who informed slightly bit concerning the evolution of PFR throughout his 21-year tenure on the Board.
“After I first began,” Mariano mentioned, “there have been a bunch of issues that wanted to get improved on and I believe from my inception of getting on the Board, each board has supported the fireplace and EMS (emergency medical companies) staff that we have now on this county and we respect the staff getting this stuff popping out of the bottom. And, the phrase on the market on the road, is that Pasco County most secure and greatest place to work [for fire and EMS personnel].”
Chief Guynn (above left) admitted that he can’t take an excessive amount of credit score for the brand new station, “as a result of a variety of the work finished on this was means earlier than my time. A number of the deputy chiefs right here had much more enter into this station than I did, so thanks. I’ve to present you credit score as nicely. The well being and security of our women and men has all the time been on the forefront. And your dedication to that [safety] and our commissioners dedication to deliver that to fruition is all the time evident and we’re by no means going to neglect that.”
Actually State-Of-The Artwork!
Following the ceremony, Chief Guynn gave extra details about the brand new Fireplace Station No. 2 (the location plan for it’s proven under) itself.
“We have now what we name our Scorching, Heat and Chilly zones, that are remoted areas contained in the constructing, the place you should assist separate a few of the carcinogens from our dwelling quarters, which helps hold our workers more healthy and most cancers free. That’s not a brand new idea and we actually didn’t invent it, however we’re taking it to the subsequent stage, and our commissioners have gotten behind us. We take our workers’ well being and wellness very severe, so simply having the ability to present them with a dwelling quarters and a hearth station exercise of that design, hold them wholesome, is an enormous deal.”
Chief Guynn additionally famous that the brand new Station No. 2 could have, “our typical fireplace truck and ambulance package deal, however we’re shifting in some aerial equipment as nicely. We have now some specialised gear that we prefer to hold near the interstate. However, , a variety of these choices will probably be made within the close to future as a result of, , by the point this station is constructed, we’ll have operational wants which can be going to vary as nicely.”
The 13,840-sq.-ft. Station 2, which is anticipated to be open by the winter of 2026, additionally will probably be a three-bay station, which Chief Guynn referred to as “medium-sized, however it’ll give us loads of room to develop. We’ll be capable to add further items inside right here and we’ll, be capable to home dozens of workers, particularly throughout hurricanes and pure disasters.”
And, these further items — and extra fireplace stations within the space between Morris Bridge Rd. and Meadow Pointe Blvd. (Station No. 31), and simply south of the Harley Davidson dealership on Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Land O’Lakes (No. 5) — are already wanted and can proceed to be much more wanted as extra properties are inbuilt our space and visitors continues to extend. Even so, Chief Guynn mentioned that response instances within the Wesley Chapel space, “are presently inside the acceptable vary,” however added that the brand new station will certainly enhance these instances, particularly for the Avalon Park/New River group and Meadow Pointe Areas III & IV.
Editor’s Notice – Sadly, the groundbreaking for this new fireplace station in Wesley Chapel was held the week after we went to press with our Could 13 situation, so this information is sort of a month previous as this situation is reaching you, however I felt it was nonetheless too vital to not embody it on this situation. I apologize for any inconvenience that the delay in getting this data to you’ll have prompted. — GN
