Osceola County opened its newest fire station, Station 71 on Westside Boulevard, last week.
County leaders and project partners officially opened the new facility for service with a traditional "uncoupling" ceremony.
The new station will house Engine 71 and Rescue 71, units most recently housed in an existing station on U.S. Highway 192. The station will also house EMS Rescue unit 75 until it moves into its own new station on Funie Steed Road later in 2025, county officials say. The $11 million facility was built in less than a year about three miles from its previous, outdated facility, and will improve response times, county fire officials said.
“Station 71’s new home is just the first step in extending and strengthening our chain of services across our community,” Osceola Fire Rescue Chief Larry Collier said. “Over the coming year, the completion of our current station projects will see our department better positioned than ever to fulfill our mission of service to the community.”
“Station 71 has been a fixture in our community for decades, and this new home for its firefighters and equipment will allow them to continue providing their amazing lifesaving services for many years to come,” Osceola County District 1 Commissioner Peggy Choudhry said.
Station 71 was one of four county station projects started in 2024; Station 75 is expected to be completed in the coming months, and new Stations 83 on Marigold Avenue in Poinciana and 43 on Orange Blossom Trail in Campbell City are projected to be completed in late 2025 or early 2026.
