JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) leaders put on a different type of helmet Tuesday morning, trading in their firefighting helmet for a construction hard hat.
Dozens of firefighters gathered at the site of a groundbreaking ceremony, all for a new, soon-to-be fire station on the northside of the city.
Construction started Tuesday for the $7.7 million station.
The ceremony highlighted how this up-and-coming part of the city is in need of more first responders being present.
Chief Powers with JFRD explained how the benefits of having a new station for residences are beyond safety precautions; the fire department will see a difference when their insurance bills come in.
"This temporary station that you see next door, which since the men [and] women of Fire Station 76 serving opened up, it started reducing the property of the insurance casualty insurance for the property owners in this area, and will continue to do so as new properties are built because now they live within five miles of a fire station," Powers said.
JFRD plans to host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new fire station next May.