SEMINOLE COUNTY – The Seminole County Fire Department in partnership with the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners and the City of Altamonte Springs, recently celebrated the opening of the brand new Fire Station 11, located at 2721 S. Ronald Reagan Boulevard in Altamonte Springs.
The $5.78 million station was built less than a quarter mile from its original home, allowing the station to continue serving its existing first-due area of nearly 13,000 residents while providing ample space to house the station’s increased capabilities and meet the needs of a growing community. The land for the station, located adjacent to the Altamonte Springs SunRail Station, was generously donated by the City of Altamonte Springs. The City also contributed $2 million toward the construction costs.
Fire Station 11 was originally constructed in 1974 on State Road 427. It was then relocated in 1978 to the larger City of Altamonte Springs municipal complex on Newburyport Avenue. The station served residents as part of the Altamonte Springs Fire Department until its merger with the Seminole County Fire Department in 2002. SCFD’s founding Fire Chief, Gary Kaiser, even started his career at Fire Station 11.
The new station, based on the same design from CT Hsu + Associates as Fire Station 29 in Jamestown/Oviedo, includes 10,300 total square feet of living and apparatus space that incorporates updates based on firefighters’ feedback. The facility includes a slate of modern safety features, including a direct source exhaust capture system for apparatus, a self-contained PPE storage room, a fueling depot, and an emergency standby generator. Crew facilities include a kitchen, sleeping quarters, offices, fitness equipment, and EMS supply storage. Three apparatus bays house vehicles and equipment to support a variety of response capabilities, including Engine 11, Rescue 11, Boat 11 for water rescues/responses, Woods Truck 11 for wildland firefighting and ATV 11 for trails responses.
“Fire Station 11 has a special place in our department’s 50-year history, and our opening of a new home for it represents an important new chapter in that history,” said Seminole County Fire Chief Matt Kinley. “Station 11 has been a fixture in this community for decades, and the Seminole County Fire Department has been privileged to be its steward for more than 20 years. A fire station is more than a building – it’s a home for our crews, a hub for our lifesaving capabilities, and a place that embraces the community it proudly serves. This new fire station allows our crews to do their job faster, safer, and more effectively, to the benefit of the residents they serve.”
“This station represents a key part of the important relationship we have with our valued City of Altamonte Springs municipal partner,” said Seminole County Board of County Commissioners Chair Jay Zembower. “The safety and well-being of our residents is a responsibility that transcends jurisdictional boundaries. Our residents can rest easy at night knowing that we are working together to ensure they continue to receive the effective and efficient public safety services that make Seminole County a great place to live.”
“When the City first proposed this partnership to Seminole County to relocate the existing fire station to another city-owned property, we knew this would be a true win for both our first responders as well as taxpayers,” said City of Altamonte Springs Mayor Pat Bates. “We were thrilled when the County was receptive. Local governments should work together to create better service delivery and better outcomes for our residents and businesses.”
Last year, Fire Station 11 ran more than 6,465 responses and it is currently Seminole County Fire Department’s fourth busiest station. Today, it serves more than 12,896 residents and 5,466 households in its first due area. Crews at Fire Station 11 remain committed to serving the community by participating in smoke alarm installs with the American Red Cross of Central Florida and leading education programs with local schools and the East Altamonte Boys & Girls Club, located less than a mile from the new station.