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The Facts
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Marion County is one of the fastest growing
communities in the state with a population that has soared to more than
250,000 citizens.
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In accordance with the 10-year-plan, MCFR will hire
250 additional firefighters by 2011, build new fire stations, relocate
and renovate existing fire stations and remodel all-volunteer fire
stations to accommodate full-time firefighters.
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The fire assessment, which is based on benefit of
service instead of property values, increases annually to meet the
demands of growth. Commissioners established the 10-year-plan concept to
spread costly enhancements over a decade to prevent encumbering
taxpayers all at once.
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With the goal of having a minimum of five full-time
crewmembers including two paramedics at each station per 24-hour shift,
response times and quality of service will improve significantly. |
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Citizens congratulated Chief McElhaney on the Grand
Opening of Golden Ocala Station 20 in June, 2004. |
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Officials broke ground on Friendship
Station 21 on
June 6, 2008.
Station 32 was not part of MCFR's original 10-year-plan,
but
explosive growth in Southwest Marion County
prompted the need for another fire
station.
Construction on Spruce Creek Station 30 is well
underway and
expected to open before the end of 2008.
Salt Springs Station 15
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10-Year-Plan Accomplishments
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Since the implementation of MCFR's 10-year- plan,
commissioners and fire rescue officials have upheld and even exceeded
promises made to citizens.
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June, 2008: Crews broke ground on Friendship Station
21, a rebuilt and relocated station that will move from its current
address on State Road 200 to Southwest 90 Street. The new three-bay
9,708 square foot station, which will cost about $2 million to build,
will provide primary response to the Friendship area and State Road 200
corridor as well as back-up service to Marion Oaks, Golden Ocala, Shady
and the city of Ocala.
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May, 2008: Crews broke ground on Station 32,
located off Highway 484 in Southwest Marion County.
The new 10,536 square foot three-bay fire station, which will cost
approximately $2.3 million to build, will house 12 dual-certified
firefighters (four per 24-hour shift), improving emergency response to
Florida Highlands as well as the State Road 200 and Highway 484
corridors.
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February, 2008: Crews broke ground on Station 32,
located off SW 49 Avenue. The new two-bay, 8,474 square foot fire
station will house 12 full-time dual-certified firefighters (four per
24-hour shift), improving emergency response to areas such as Marco Polo
Village, Whispering Pines, Forest Glen, Sun Valley, Majestic Oaks,
Cherry Wood and JB Ranch among others.
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October, 2007: Broke ground on Spruce Creek Station
30, a new station, located at 7900 SE 135 Street.
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March, 2007: Staffed South Forest Station 6, formerly
an all-volunteer station, with full-time EMT and paramedic/firefighters
who work 24-hour shifts, improving response in the Big Scrub, Rolling
Woods and Weirsdale areas.
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February, 2007: Celebrated the grand opening of Salt
Springs Station 15, formerly an all-volunteer station, just 10-months
after officials broke ground on the two-bay, 7,200 square foot building.
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December, 2006: Celebrated the grand opening of
Rainbow Springs Station 22, now a 13,500 square foot multi-governmental
facility that also houses a Tax Collector's Office and Sheriff's
District Office.
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December, 2005: Celebrated the grand opening of
Meadowood Farms Station 12 after breaking ground on the 7,200 square
foot station in August, 2004.
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July, 2004: Celebrated the grand opening of Anthony
Station 1, formerly an all-volunteer station, improving emergency
response north of Ocala including Silver Meadows, Ocala Highlands,
Pleasant Manor, Dove Hill, Countryside Estates, Cross Tie Ranches and
many other neighborhoods.
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June, 2004: Celebrated the grand opening of Golden
Ocala Station 20, a relocated fire station, improving emergency response
to neighborhoods such as Ocala Park Estates, Golden Hills and Ocala
Palms.
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October, 2002: Celebrated the grand opening of The
Villages of Marion Station 10 off Highway 42, improving emergency
response in south Marion County, including The Villages of Marion,
Orange Blossom Hills, West Lake Weir, Stonecrest and Spruce Creek South.
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