PORT CHARLOTTE — Fire Station 3 has been demolished.
The Charlotte County fire station, at 4322 El Jobean Road, was torn down for a new station that will be built at the same location.
Station 3 was originally built in 1977. According to officials, the previous building reached the end of its life cycle.
Officials also said the now demolished building was not up to snuff in a number of ways including:
Not being hardened for hurricane resistanceLacking capacity for storage, equipment, apparatus and suppliesInadequate personnel capacity and kitchen facilities
The new station will be hurricane hardened, provide more space for the Charlotte County Fire & EMS team and support the growing needs of the community for years to come, according to officials.
The total budget for the new station is about $8.6 million.
The new Station 3 is expected to be completed by mid-2027.
“Don’t worry, we’re not going anywhere,” Charlotte County Fire & EMS stated on social media. “During construction, personnel and apparatus assigned to Fire Station 3 will operate from a temporary station at Randy Spence Park, located at 4333 Kerrigan Circle. Engine 3 and Rescue 3 will remain operational throughout the project, and emergency response coverage will continue for the area.”
The new station is being funded through the voter-approved 2020 1% Local Option Sales Tax, officials stated on social media.
A 20-year extension of the 1% local sales tax will be on the ballot for Charlotte County voters this November. It takes the sales tax up from 6% to 7%. Officials say it pays for hundreds of millions of dollars in projects.