SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – The fast-growing Heathrow area, west of I-4 in Seminole County, has a brand-new fire station that officials say will improve response times up to two minutes in some parts of the service area.
Our News 6 team visited the site where Fire Station 39 was being built between Orange Boulevard and International Parkway last year. In December, our crew followed up to see the finished building as it became operational.
The 13,356 square-foot building is now Seminole County’s largest fire station and is the first new station to open since 2018. Fire officials say the crew stationed there will serve nearly 11,000 residents and over 4,100 households.
When our crew visited the site in 2024, Fire Chief Matt Kinley spoke about the need for a new station in the Heathrow and Paola area. Nearby Station 34, where Kinley started his career is “maxed out.”
“In just the past decade, their call load has increased 53%,” Kinley said.
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This year, Station 34 responded to more than 4,500 calls and is the ninth busiest station in the county, according to data provided by Seminole County Fire Department. Station 36, which also serves parts of northwest Seminole County, responded to 4,800 calls.
“The addition of this station is going to decrease response times by two minutes or greater in some of the area, and by a minute in most of the area,” Kinley said.
Nicholas Norelli, an engineer and paramedic at Station 39, tells News 6 every minute matters in an emergency situation.
“It can make a lot of difference, especially in a life-threatening situation,” said Norelli. “When someone calls 911, it’s their emergency. So, if we can get there quicker, it makes them feel better.”
Norelli said in addition to shorter response times and a reduced call volume, more personnel will also be able to respond to major incidents like structure fires and crashes quicker.
The $10.7 million station is also filled with equipment to serve the unique needs of the area including:
- Tower 39
- Engine 39
- Rescue 39
- Woods 39
- ATV 39
- Boat 39
- Crash Attenuator Truck (CAT 39) - delivery expected in early 2026
Norelli said the Tower 39 has a 100-foot-tall ladder that crews can use to respond to high-rise buildings, including the apartment buildings on both sides of nearby International Parkway. The ATV will help crews easily reach calls on the Seminole Wekiva Trail.
Crews tell News 6 they already responded to a fire call in Lake Mary on the first day the station went operational.
An official grand opening for Fire Station 39 will be held in February.