COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Fire Station 40 has been at the intersection of Goodlette-Frank and Pine Ridge Road since the early 70's, but soon it will be relocating.
"My husband had a heart attack, in July of 2008, and EMS was there within minutes, which I'm so grateful for," said resident Caroline Martino, who opposes the move.
The station would relocate to a plot of land a quarter mile away, at Forest Lakes Boulevard and Pine Ridge Road.
"I hate to see the fire station move, further into Pine Ridge Road, which will undoubtedly affect the response times," said Martino.
But North Collier Fire District Chief James Cunningham says the department has outgrown the current location.
He says there aren't enough bays for vehicles to park. If fire engines are parked outside the elements could destroy life saving equipment.
"We need to maintain the climate in these vehicles, especially when it comes to the medications we carry and some of the things we carry related to medical emergencies."
The chief says the new is only a quarter mile away from the current one, and response times would remain within the 4 minute national standard.
"We obviously have apparatus that are equipped that are able to change traffic signal lights to move traffic for us, to get through the traffic easier."
Martino is hoping some kind of compromise can be brokered between keeping the old station open.
"Please don't give up this location, if you make it into a substation, at least keep EMS here, keep the essential services here."
The deal to sell the station still needs to be discussed at the next Fire Commission meeting, which will be held February 13th.
