COW to hear ambitious plan to build four fire stations

At the Committee of the Whole tomorrow morning, Escambia County Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger will present an ambitious plan to construct four new fire stations. This $34 million investment would fulfill her campaign commitment to improve public safety. (Note: The original plan was for $30 million, but the commissioner added an additional location and modified her budget at the COW).

• Background: During her 2024 campaign, Hofberger made supporting first responders part of her platform, citing how she had to wait 20 minutes for an ambulance when her toddler was having a seizure.

Project Overview

Hofberger has prepared a Fire Station RFP for the design and construction of four fire stations at various locations throughout the county. Two will be completely new construction, while the other two will involve demolition and replacement of existing structures.

The four locations include:
– 7209 Lillian Hwy, Pensacola (demolition and replacement, estimated at $8.5 million)
– Fire Station 24 at HWY 97 & Kingsfield Rd (new construction, estimated at $6.5 million)
– Paradise Beach (new construction with site TBD, estimated at $6.5 million)
– 9350 Gulf Beach Hwy, Pensacola (demolition and replacement, estimated at $8.5 million)

• Disproves “County Mayor ” Argument: We have a small group who want to change the form of county government from a five-commissioner elected from single-member districts and a county administrator to five or more county-wide commissioners and a strong county mayor in charge of everything. They argue that the current commissioners only care about their districts and never consider the county-wide impact of their votes. Hofberger is proposing four new stations outside of her District 4.

Modern Facilities for Modern Challenges

Each station will be designed to meet strict standards, including the Florida Building Code, Florida Fire Prevention Code, and FAC Rule 69A-62.024, which establishes standards for construction and maintenance of firefighter employee places of employment.

The stations will feature:
– Two truck bays designed for modern fire apparatus
– Eight individual sleeping quarters
– Multi-purpose common areas
– Dedicated decontamination spaces
– Hurricane-resistant construction
– Energy-efficient systems

Community and Economic Benefits

Beyond the obvious safety improvements, Hofberger will present how her project offers significant benefits to the local community:

1. Enhanced emergency response capabilities with modern facilities
2. Hurricane-resistant structures that can serve during disasters
3. Economic stimulus through local construction jobs
4. Long-term value through energy-efficient, compliant facilities

She wants the county to show a preference for local contractors to support the Escambia County economy and ensure familiarity with regional conditions.

Practical Budgeting: The budget aligns with similar fire station projects throughout Florida. Recent examples include Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Station 62 ($5.2 million), Panama City Beach Fire Station 32 ($7.2 million), and Tampa Fire Rescue Station 24 ($5.2 million).

Suggested Timeline and Next Steps

The county has outlined an ambitious timeline:
– Finalize and issue RFP: June 1, 2025
– Evaluate proposals: August 1, 2025
– Begin construction: March 1, 2026

The Catch

I did talk my sources in the county fire department who are pleased to see the new stations, which will help cover high-growth areas like Paradise Beach and Kingsfield Road. They are concerned about staffing and equipment the new locations. Construction is only part of the total cost.