Flagler County will host a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Fire Station 51 on December 8 at 11:00 a.m., marking the start of construction on the county’s first fire station built using a newly developed prototype design.
The ceremony will take place at 245 County Road 305 in Bunnell, and the public is invited to attend the event.
“This is especially exciting for us, as we have been working with our Engineering Department and Schenkel Shultz Architecture over the last two years on this prototype,” said Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker. “This is our first station to use this prototype design.”
The new Station 51 will be a single-story building measuring 10,900 square feet with three equipment bays. The facility’s location in western Flagler County was strategically chosen to provide optimal coverage, positioned roughly equidistant from existing fire stations in the area. The older Station 51 is located on County Road 13 in Espanola, while Station 57 sits on County Road 2006 in St. Johns Park.
The project carries an estimated cost of $10.36 million. The development of the prototype design over the past two years involved collaboration between the county’s Engineering Department and Schenkel Shultz Architecture firm. This prototype approach suggests the county may use similar designs for future fire station construction projects, potentially streamlining the planning and building process.
The groundbreaking represents a significant investment in emergency services infrastructure for western Flagler County, addressing coverage needs in an area between two existing stations. The three-bay design will allow the facility to house multiple emergency response vehicles, enhancing the county’s ability to respond to fires and other emergencies in the region.
The December 8 ceremony will mark the official start of construction on the facility, though completion timelines were not announced. Public attendance at the groundbreaking allows community members to witness the beginning of a project that will directly impact emergency response capabilities in their area.
