GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. – A new fire station will be built in Green Cove Springs to keep up with the unprecedented growth in Clay County.
There’s only one fire station in Green Cove Springs and it’s small and outdated.
The Clay County fire chief said the new station is the beginning of a long-term plan to add several new fire stations over several years.
“We’re looking to build a 5-bay fire station. That’s a big fire station. We’re going from almost 2,000 square feet to over 18,000 square feet. and that will allow us to handle multiple units and multiple personnel,” Clay County Fire Chief Lorin Mock said.
Lake Asbury, Middleburg and Green Cove Springs are the hot spots for all the growth in the county. The fire chief said the response times have been slow because of the growth.
Thousands of homes are being built around the new outer beltway that should reach the Shands Bridge by next year.
Amanda Lorentz just moved to Lake Asbury and knows all about the booming growth.
“It’s ridiculous, I literally had a Camry when I first moved here and it kept bottoming out every time. I hit one of the cones and [I have a Jeep now] so I wouldn’t keep bottoming out,” Lorentz said.
She didn’t know about the need for more fire, police and other services but she’s not surprised.
“I live in a neighborhood where there’s only one way in and out, and I get concerned about fire hazards because of all the emergencies if they need to leave,” Lorentz said.
The fire chief said one idea for the county is to pass a bond to pay for all the construction on top of recent property tax hikes that Clay County voters have approved.