AUSTIN, Texas — Southeast Austin now has a new joint fire and EMS station.
The Goodnight Ranch station opened on Saturday afternoon. It is the fourth joint station built by the city over the past six years.
The city broke ground on the station last February in order to increase emergency response as the city continues to grow.
"We're so excited to be able to serve the community that has been underserved in the past," Austin Fire Department Division Chief Peter Teliha said. "The goal of having a response time that is equal for everybody across the city is really important for us, and this is going to make that happen."
The Austin City Council passed a resolution to develop and build five new fire/EMS stations in six years back in May 2018. The new buildings aim to serve areas with low response times and/or high population growth.
“One of the most important roles I play as a local leader is ensuring our communities have access to quick and reliable public safety. This new joint fire/EMS Station will provide faster response times while addressing the city’s rapid growth, especially in our southeast Austin communities," Councilmember Vanessa Fuentes (District 2) said at last year’s groundbreaking.
The Goodnight Ranch station, which is located off of Stockman Ranch Drive, features:
- 15,200 square feet of training stairs
- Four pull-through apparatus bays
- Eleven fire dorms and four EMS dorms
- Common Day room, kitchen and gym
- Parking spaces for 21 station personnel
- Exterior space for station personnel
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