When the Paradise Beach fire station closed its doors in 2018, area residents faced the troubling reality that their nearest emergency response would be miles away. But thanks to the determined leadership of District 2 Commissioner and Chair Mike Kohler, that six-year gap in critical fire protection services is finally ending.
- On July 31, Escambia County and the U.S. Navy will hold a ceremonial signing at 2 p.m. in the Ernie Lee Magaha Government Building, marking the completion of a complex land exchange agreement.
Details: The agreement exchanges 31.15 acres of county-owned land at O’Conner-Colling Community Park for 5.26 acres of Navy property off Bauer Road. This swap accomplishes two goals: it provides the county with the land needed to reestablish Fire Station #20–Paradise Beach, while granting the Navy a restrictive easement that protects operations at Naval Air Station Pensacola from incompatible development.
- “Our partnership with the Navy has been invaluable in finally closing this deal for the residents of the Paradise Beach community and Escambia County,” Kohler said, emphasizing the collaborative spirit that made this agreement possible.
Dig Deeper: Land deals involving military installations require navigating layers of federal regulations, security considerations, and bureaucratic processes that can easily derail even the most well-intentioned efforts. The county’s land swap for OLF-8 took over two decades to finalize.
Why This Matters
Paradise Beach residents have waited six years for the restoration of local fire protection services. In emergency situations, those extra minutes of response time can mean the difference between a minor incident and a devastating loss. Property values, insurance rates, and overall community safety all improve with proximity to fire protection services.
- Years ago, then-District 1 Commissioner Jeff Bergosh asked Kohler for his help in landing the deal. In May, Kohler said, “Commissioner Bergosh was here when I first got on board, and he asked me to go talk to the Navy about that land. And the Navy’s committed to give us that land, and it’s going to happen. I know that it’s taken longer than it should. I just think we should give the Navy a thank you for actually giving us that property.”
“I’m excited to finally bring a fire station back to Paradise Beach, which will greatly improve the quality of life for our residents,” said Commissioner Steve Stroberger, Bergosh’s successor. “Reinstating the Paradise Beach fire station has been a top priority for District 1, and I want to thank everyone involved who helped make this happen.”
Beyond immediate safety concerns, this agreement represents economic development potential for the area. Businesses and developers are more likely to invest in communities with adequate emergency services infrastructure, creating opportunities for job growth and increased tax revenue.
- NAS Pensacola Community Planning and Liaison Officer Steve Opalenik said, “The Navy-Escambia County Land Exchange agreement has been a multi-year effort with a lot of hands-on support and patience. This partnership further protects the mission at NAS Pensacola while providing the opportunity for a much-needed fire station. This is a win for both the Navy and Escambia County.”
District 4 Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger included building a fire station at Paradise Beach in her fire safety plan that she presented to the Board of County Commissioners in May.