The grand opening for the new Miami Lakes West Fire Station 64 is scheduled for 10 a.m., Friday, October 23, at Miami Lakes Drive and N.W. 77 Court.
The event will be highlighted by a ceremony recognizing former Miami Lakes Vice Mayor Roberto Alonso, who discovered the FDOT-owned land to build the facility nearly 10 years ago.
At the time, Miami-Dade County was under a lot of pressure to buy land for a fire station to increase the emergency response time on the west-side of Miami Lakes and an unincorporated area north of the town.
A realtor, Alonso discovered the property and FDOT turned it over to the county to build the fire station.
Alonso will be honored posthumously for his efforts to bring the new fire station to the town.
“The chief recognizing my father is a great honor,” said Roberto Alonso III.
Miami Lakes resident Abel Fernandez will serve as the Battalion Chief of the new fire station and Fire Station One on N.W. 67 Avenue near the Palmetto Expressway.
Station 64 is a 13,512 square foot, two-story facility, which includes a lobby, a bunker gear room, office space, a kitchen, dining area, day room, rest room, exercise room, Battalion Chief’s office and miscellaneous space.
Two units will be assigned to the station.
The money to build the fire station came entirely from impact fees.