Western community to receive upgraded emergency services with forward-thinking facility design
Flagler County officials gathered recently for a groundbreaking ceremony marking the start of construction on a new Fire Station 51, the second fire station groundbreaking in approximately two weeks for the county.
The new station will replace the existing Station 51 facility and is designed to provide faster response times and stronger service for the county’s western communities. According to officials, the project has been two years in the making through collaboration between the county’s engineering department, fire rescue, and the architectural team at Schenkel and Schultz.
Fire Chief Mike Tucker emphasized the significance of the moment for Flagler County Fire Rescue and the community it serves.
“This is a big day because this is the second groundbreaking in about two weeks that we’ve done in fire stations,” Tucker said. “And that’s exciting for any organization, but it’s definitely exciting for Flagler County Fire Rescue and the citizens of Flagler County because it represents a change. It represents a new direction that we’re going as an organization.”
Tucker noted the station’s design will prioritize firefighter safety, keeping crew members separated as much as possible from carcinogens they encounter on the job. The facility is described as a forward-thinking prototype that will serve as a standard for future stations in the county.
Officials credited several individuals for making the project possible, including Robert Stagliano and the engineering team, Deputy County Administrator Sales, and the county administrator, whom Tucker thanked for making the station a priority from his first day as fire chief.
The location of the new station reflects strategic planning to address growth in the western part of the county. By positioning resources closer to residents in need, officials said response times will improve for emergency calls in the area.
Retired Lieutenant Clay Merritt, who served at Station 51 for more than 13 years, spoke about the station’s history and evolution. Merritt explained that Station 51 began as a volunteer station, like many in Flagler County, before transitioning to a full-time career station staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
“The original station, 51, my station for more than 13 years, started as a volunteer station, like many stations were years ago in Flagler County,” Merritt said. “As expectations changed, rapid growth occurred and the dynamics of volunteering shifted.”
Merritt described challenging conditions at the original facility, where crews initially slept in office cubicles with little privacy. A 2015 remodel created bunk rooms and additional storage space, transforming the facility into what Merritt called a proper firehouse rather than a cobbled-together space.
Merritt also shared the story behind the station’s unofficial “penalty box” nickname, which came from the parking area where firefighters park their vehicles for their 24-hour shifts behind closed gates. He explained that while some viewed the name negatively, the firefighters embraced its meaning.
“Just like in hockey, the penalty box shapes our narrative. It adds a layer of strategy, suspense, and sometimes humor. It is a time to observe, educate, and strategize,” Merritt said.
Station 51 operates multiple apparatus including a rescue engine, brush truck, and tender, requiring firefighters to be prepared for a wide range of emergency calls from structure fires to rescue operations.
“While this building will represent the future of Flagler County, serving future generations of residents, keeping symbols of our present unifies all of us who have served with pride in our commitment,” Merritt said.
The groundbreaking follows a recent ceremony for Station 50 and comes alongside the development of a new fire rescue headquarters, signaling continued investment in the county’s emergency services infrastructure.
