Miami Lakes receives new Rescue unit during historic 'push-in' event

The top brass from Miami-Dade County and Miami Lakes gathered for a special occasion last week when a new fire-rescue unit was added to Station 64 to increase the emergency response time for the west side of town.
The town’s elected voices and residents have been asking county officials for the added service to help save lives since Miami Lakes’ population has increased, and traffic congestion sometimes delay the arrival of fire-rescue units at other fire stations.
Miami Lakes celebrated the arrival of the new unit with a push-in ceremony at 15325 N.W. 77 Court as county officials, firefighters and town officials pushed the new unit into the fire station.
Miami Lakes was among three cities awarded a new fire-rescue unit on April 8 as retiring Miami-Dade Fire Chief Dave Downey called it a historic day.
The county added units at the fire station in Palmetto Bay (9798 East Hibiscus Street), and the West Kendall fire station at 8501 S.W. 127 Avenue.
“Today, we put three new trucks in three stations in one day, the first time in county history,” Downey said during the push-in ceremony at the Miami Lakes Fire Station 64. “It’s an unprecedented feat and we did it during tough budget times. We added the service because it’s the most important one in the community.”
The day was so historic that Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, County Commissioner Esteban Bovo Jr., and Florida’s Lieutenant Governor Jeanette Nunez were on hand for the event.
Gimenez said Miami Lakes Mayor Manny Cid, Vice Mayor Nelson Rodriguez, a Coral Gables firefighter, and Councilmembers Jefferey Rodriguez, Luis Collazo, Josh Dieguez and Carlos Alvarez, who were sitting in the front row, all made it possible in their efforts to bring a new unit to the town for their constituents.
“I thank Mayor Cid and council members for what they are doing for their residents and town,”said Gimenez, himself a retired City of Miami fire chief. “It’s an honor to add the new service at Station 64 in Miami Lakes.”
Bovo, whose district include Miami Lakes, said the new unit is the result of town and county officials working together to achieve their goals and objectives.
“That’s the reason why we get into public service,” he said. “We want to solve issues in our community.”
Cid said adding the new unit was the top priority for residents in the town’s strategic plan. “Public safety is No.1 and the new unit helps achieve that goal,” he said.
Collazo said, “It’s a very proud day for the Town of Miami Lakes.”