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County fire chief reports steady call volume and faster response times; new station negotiations underway
Summary
Public Safety Director and County Fire Rescue Chief Justin Hazellief told the Okeechobee City Council the county responded to 1,621 calls in the past year, completed 231 fire-prevention inspections, and improved average response time to four minutes, 50 seconds; county leaders are negotiating a site for a new station to ease high call volumes on State Road 78/Highway 441 South.
Public Safety Director and County Fire Rescue Chief Justin Hazellief reported to the City Council that total calls for service within the past year were 1,621 and fire prevention inspections totaled 231. "The current average response time is four minutes and 50 seconds," Hazellief said, adding that response times have improved over the last year.
Hazellief said the County recently hired a new deputy fire chief from Saint Lucie County and is negotiating with the Okeechobee Utility Authority to acquire property for a new fire station intended to address high call volumes on State Road 78/Highway 441 South and in the southwest section of the county. He also noted operational updates including an expanded mosquito-spraying route that will include city limits and joint pre-hurricane-season planning and training with regional partners to prepare for levee breaches and flood threats from Taylor Creek and Lake Okeechobee.
