St. Cloud city leaders broke ground Tuesday on a new fire station as the city continues to expand with new neighborhoods and annexed land.
Fire Station 35 is an $11 million investment and one of two new stations planned for the 2025-2026 fiscal year. It will serve the Tohoqua community, Kings Crest and nearby unincorporated areas.
WESH 2โs Spencer Tracy reports the new station is part of a broader plan to meet the cityโs growing demand for public safety.
โWith the city of St. Cloud growing everywhere, we are adding fire stations, widening roads and improving infrastructure,โ said Fire Chief Jason Miller.
โWe need to ensure their safety is first and foremost,โ said Mayor Chris Robertson. City leaders said the station’s location was chosen to improve response times in a rapidly developing area.
โWe are going to see a dramatic decrease in those response times for this area,โ Miller said. Recent annexations east of the city will bring thousands of new residents, businesses and homes. City officials said building ahead of demand ensures public safety keeps up with growth.
โNow weโve got 71,000 people in the city of St. Cloud, not counting the surrounding county,โ Robertson said. โWith more than 50,000 new residents coming to the west side of the Turnpike, public safety must be ready.โ
Station 35 will include an engine and a rescue unit, three bays for fire equipment and living quarters for firefighters on 24-hour shifts. The station will be located at Breezewood Street and Neptune Road, just west of Tohoqua, with construction expected to take approximately 14 months.
Another station, Station 36, is planned for the east side of the city along the Narcoossee Road corridor.
