Highlands County Fire Rescue outlines $7 million Lake Placid station plan, eyes 1349 US‑27 site

Highlands County Fire Rescue leaders told the Lake Placid Town Council on April 2025 that a planned full‑service fire station and adjoining training site for the town is moving toward design and property acquisition, with preliminary construction estimates near $7,000,000 and an environmental study under way for a parcel north of Southern Lifestyles Assisted Living on U.S. 27.

The presentation traced the project’s history and why county staff and fire chiefs concluded a new station is needed. Deputy Chief Dustin Fitch and Chief Kelly Dufenthaler told the council the county consolidated volunteer fire districts beginning in 2018 and has repeatedly updated studies and funding plans since then. A most recent county study increased the funding level to 83.75 percent for operations and established a 20‑year capital apparatus replacement plan funded at 50 percent; the new station and training site remain dependent on additional capital funding, the officials said.

County leaders said they have an intent to purchase a triangular seven‑acre parcel at 1349 U.S. 27 that they believe can accommodate a station and training area. County staff walked the site and reported only “a bee hive” during preliminary environmental checks; the council was told an environmental study is in progress. The county’s architect is expected to submit percent‑complete construction documents at the end of the month, which officials said would allow competitive bids and a more precise construction cost estimate. The county has submitted a request for state appropriations but warned that state funding decisions can change quickly.

Why it matters: Highlands County said the countywide consolidation and the station plan respond to response‑time gaps and Insurance Services Office (ISO) ratings. Fire Rescue officials described efforts to meet NFPA guidance, adopt a “clean/dirty” design to protect firefighters from occupational cancer exposures, and to secure a training site so local firefighters do not need to travel long distances for training.

Details and timeline - Funding history: A 2018 implementation plan recommended staged career staffing along U.S. 27; portion of implementation funded at roughly 60 percent then later increased to 83.75 percent with a 20‑year apparatus replacement plan funded at 50 percent. Officials said capital funding remained incomplete and that apparatus replacement needs reduced available implementation dollars. - Station sizing and site needs: Fire staff said modern NFPA‑compliant stations and occupational‑health design require roughly 16,000 square feet and a recommended minimum of two acres for a single station; larger training sites are often 3–5 acres or more. County staff reported looking at several parcels, rejected an AdventHealth donation due to high mitigation costs from an environmental study (roughly several hundred thousand dollars), and found two large but cost‑prohibitive parcels north of town. The 1349 U.S. 27 parcel was described as a workable option with room for a training pad. - Cost estimate and procurement: The county’s architect estimated a station plus training site in the neighborhood of $7,000,000; that figure does not include property purchase, a council member confirmed. The county expects design documents late this month, followed by bidding if approvals and the environmental report allow. - Operations and equipment: Officials said the station will be a four‑bay facility to house the apparatus envisioned in the county consolidation plan; staff said the ladder truck dimensions and turn‑radius requirements were part of site testing. - ISO and response times: Officials explained the 4‑minute target commonly used for first‑unit arrival in ISO/NFPA calculations (from dispatch to arrival), noted current gaps in coverage, and said the county’s plan aims to improve the countywide ISO rating (the county currently has a 5/5X in places, the county hopes to move to a 3 in the future once stations are added).

Council questions and clarifications Council members asked whether the parcel is currently zoned for the proposed use; county staff said the parcel’s current zoning is agricultural and would require rezoning. Officials confirmed the $7,000,000 estimate excludes land acquisition. Council members also asked whether volunteer stations such as Placid Lakes would close when the county adds career stations; county staff said no, volunteer stations would remain in service and be part of a combined response model. The county said it intends to seek state appropriations and requested town support for outreach to state legislators.

What’s next County officials said they will complete the environmental study, finalize 50 percent construction documents by the end of the month, and then proceed to bid if the study and property purchase move forward. Town staff and council members asked for regular updates and copies of design documents as they become available.

Ending Highlands County Fire Rescue framed the project as part of a multi‑year county consolidation to address coverage gaps and firefighter safety. County officials said design work is advancing and that state appropriations remain an important but uncertain funding avenue.