Officials from Miami Lakes and Miami-Dade County broke ground to start construction on the long-awaited Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Station 64 to help achieve a faster response time for emergencies on the west side of town.
Through a partnership between the state, county and town, the facility is ready to be built, and the officials gathered at the event expressed special thanks to former Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Roberto Alonso, who discovered the FDOT-owned land in 2006. Alonso died of cancer last month.
Miami Lakes Mayor Wayne Slaton thanked those in attendance including State Representative Manny Diaz Jr., County Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr., and Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Director Chief Dave Downey.
Slaton also recognized members of the Alonso family who were present for the groundbreaking. Located on the corner of N.W. 154 Street and 77 Court, Station 64 will be a 13,512 square-foot Silver LEED Certified, two-story, three-bay Fire Rescue facility which will accommodate up to 12 firefighters.
The facility will include a bunker gear room, storage space, a work area, offices, dining room, day room, study room, exercise room, telecommunications room, and an office for a Battalion Chief.
For the past three years, Station 64 has been housed in temporary quarters at the intersection of N.W. 82 Avenue and Commerce Way in Miami Lake Business Park West.After many years of planning, Miami Lakes Fire Rescue Station Number 64 is slated to be fully operational by 2014.
"Thanks to the vision of former Vice Mayor Roberto Alonso, this new fire station will be a symbol of pride in our community for many years to come," stated Vice Mayor Manny Cid.