'Minutes equal lives': Westside Jacksonville is getting 'desperately needed' fire station

Jacksonville's 73 fire stations average more than 2,600 runs a year each as their crews respond to fires, crashes and medical emergencies.

But in one corner of the city's Westside, Station 22 on Jammes Road handled 5,423 runs last year, while Station 31 on Hillman Drive handled 4,826, and Station 32 on Lenox Avenue made 3,956, Chief Keith Powers said.

Those stations, circling the Interstate 295 and Wilson Boulevard intersection, get so busy they often must help each other out, Powers said. That's why the city broke ground Wednesday on a 9,000-square-foot addition in the middle of the Westside zone — Fire Station 75 at 2630 Firestone Road.

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"This station is desperately needed in this area," Powers said. "In our business, minutes equal lives and the closer we can be when an emergency happens, the better chance we have of saving those lives."

The new station brings "care and innovation" to District 10, added City Councilwoman Brenda Priestly Jackson, who represents the communities served by the facility being built just a block north of Wilson Boulevard for $6.5 million.

"This new structure will address the continued growth in our city and the need to immediately respond to our neighbors' needs in this area," she said. "And I am very encouraged that it is in an older established neighborhood, so this will mitigate the potential for blight and other conditions in this community."

Fire and Rescue Station 75

The new station will house a fire engine, rescue unit, six-person crew and a proposed chief.

Station 75 will handle issues in the Sweetwater area of Northwest Jacksonville, as well as assist the three other stations 1 to 3 miles away on either side of I-295. It opens in eight to nine months.

"It was necessary because of the run volume that is happening in this area," Powers said. "... District 10 really needed this fire station and we were able to do it."

The groundbreaking came a week after all of the city's firefighters prepared for Hurricane Ian after slamming into Florida's Southwest coast, Mayor Lenny Curry said. While Ian's impact on Jacksonville was less than expected, he said the storm shows that the city must continue to invest in its first responders.  

"We must ensure they have the resources they need to do their jobs and save lives," Curry said. "This new fire station will do just that, another tool first responders can use to keep communities safe. It will improve response times here, reduce insurance premiums and ultimately save lives."

More new Jacksonville fire department stations coming

Station 75 is just one of a number of new or planned fire stations in Jacksonville, along with major renovations at two others and even some replacements planned, fire officials said.

The city just opened Station 74 at 11010 Meeting St. off Florida 9B in the eTown, Nocatee and surrounding area, improving that growing Southside area's fire preparedness insurance rating.

In late March, city officials broke ground on the $7.5 million Station 65 on Bailey Body Road near Atlantic Boulevard, planning to have an engine, rescue unit and room for up to 10 firefighters when it opens in the next few months.

Station 65's groundbreaking came less than six months after the permanent $7 million Station 63 opened on Gate Parkway. It replaced a temporary site that opened in 2019 to serve 4,000 businesses, 5,000 homes and 30 apartment complexes in an ever-growing coverage area, Powers said. 

Groundbreakings are planned soon for three more facilities: Station 64 at Harts Road and Dunn Avenue; Station 47 on Lannie Road on the Northside; and Station 76 on Cedar Point Road, fire officials said.

New Marine Station 68 is being planned at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, while existing Marine Station 39 at 1408 Gator Bowl Blvd. is being moved to a site closer to the Talleyrand Avenue shipping and warehouse area. 

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Station 22 on Jammes Road is under consideration for replacement, while the city is also renovating Stations 17 at 710 Huron St. and 12 at 3408 Atlantic Blvd.

Other new stations opened in recent years include Station 73 at 5845 Aviation Ave. and Engine and Rescue 61 for the Argyle and Oakleaf areas.

dscanlan@jacksonvile.com, (904) 359-4549