Residents press county to fund new fire station after multiple house and brush fires

Dozens of residents from Stewart West, Cobblestone and surrounding neighborhoods urged the Martin County Board of County Commissioners on April 22 to prioritize construction of a new fire-rescue station on Martin Highway near I‑95 to shorten response times.

The push follows three recent total‑loss house fires and several brush fires in Western Palm City that speakers said were aggravated by long response times from the Map Road station. "By the time they got there, the fire had already taken a hold," said Deb Vygotsky, a Stuart West resident whose home suffered a total gutting in a December fire. "A few minutes could have changed everything."

Why it matters: Residents and community leaders said minutes matter for medical and fire emergencies. Rochelle Tetko, a former cardiac-care professional, told commissioners that in cardiac arrest "brain damage begins within 4 to 6 minutes and the chances of survival drop by 10 percent every minute without treatment," and argued Western Palm City’s average ambulance and EMS response times of 15–20 minutes fall well short of urban/suburban benchmarks.

Speakers described obstacles that slow emergency response along State Road 714 (Martin Highway): heavy traffic, limited access roads for some subdivisions and the distance to the nearest station on Map Road. Multiple residents said recent development is increasing demand. "As our county grows ... emergency response needs on the Turnpike I‑95 Martin Highway are creating even more demand for the fire station that currently serves Western Martin County," said Bill Miller of Cobblestone.

Several residents and community organizations noted an offer from Ashley Capital, the developer behind Martin Commerce Park, to donate a parcel across Martin Highway as a public benefit tied to a project approval. "Accepting this donation would greatly reduce costs for taxpayers," said Linda St. Julian, adding that the donated land is "at the exact right spot" to serve Stewart West, Cobblestone and new developments.

Commissioner response: Commissioner Hetherington, identified in the meeting as the district commissioner representing the area, told speakers he had heard their concerns and committed to pushing the item forward in the county budgeting process: "I will give you my full commitment as long as I'm sitting up here that we will ... move full steam ahead to help you have a fire station in Western Palm City." That statement was made during the public-comment period and did not constitute a final appropriation or binding vote by the board.

What was not decided: The board did not hold a formal vote to fund or allocate money for a fire station on April 22. Staff did not present a specific project budget or timeline at the meeting, and no ordinance, resolution or motion to appropriate funds for design or construction was adopted.

Clarifying details: Multiple speakers referenced a county study showing coverage gaps in Western Palm City; residents gave repeated estimates of 15–20 minute EMS/fire response times in the area. Ashley Capital’s proposed land donation was described as reducing land‑acquisition costs but commissioners noted construction, equipment and staffing remain to be budgeted. Speakers urged that accepting donated land paired with timely capital appropriation would reduce taxpayer burden.

Next steps: Commissioners praised the public engagement and asked staff to include the matter in budget discussions; Commissioner Hetherington indicated he would prioritize the station in future budget work. County staff or commissioners did not set a date for formal action on design, appropriation or a contract for the proposed site during the April 22 meeting.

Ending: Residents urged faster action while emphasizing public safety risks remain until a new station is funded and built. Several speakers asked commissioners not to wait for another fatality before approving the project.