Pasco County firefighters, county officials and first responders gathered on Sept. 17 to mark the beginning of construction for a new Wesley Chapel fire station.
The groundbreaking ceremony for Station 38, which began at 8 a.m., was held at the fire station’s future location on Overpass Road.
The ceremony marked the first addition of a new fire coverage area in Pasco County since 2009.
The fire station is situated within the Watergrass community, a residential area, which also includes a local elementary school.
The project comes in response to an increasing need for shorter wait times in that growing region of Wesley Chapel.
In his remarks, Fire Chief Scott Cassin talked about the amenities and advancements the new station will have.
The new 10,843-square-foot station will have a four-bay garage for trucks and supplies. It will have a kitchen and residential area, and a sheriff’s substation will be housed there, too.
The station will have a new call alert system that will be implemented to simultaneously dispatch numerous calls at the same time.
The installation of a Plymovent Diesel Exhaust Capture System will set Station 38 apart from other Pasco fire stations. The feature will lessen exposure to carcinogenic chemicals.
“Station 38 will have atmospheric conditioning that will protect our firefighters from that gas,” said Deputy Chief Michael Cassano.
Going forward, existing and future stations in the county are planned to be equipped with the system.
Cassin has been visiting Pasco fire stations to get feedback on what improvements could be incorporated into Station 38.
“We’re trying to think long-term,” the chief said.
Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley offered a few words, too, before a customary snapshot was taken of shovels flinging dirt.
Station 38 has been four years in the making and will cost an estimated $3.6 million to build. Construction is expected to be completed in the fall of 2019.
Published September 26, 2018
