Fire Chief Dru Driscoll and Daytona Fire Fighter Leadership salute the American Flag with attendees at the ribbon cutting event in Daytona Beach. Photo by Rachel Mills
Lt. Raymond Hackett and his wife, Margorie, pose with their children for a photo in front of a classic Daytona Beach fire truck. Photo by Rachel Mills
It was a unique ribbon cutting: Seven uniformed firefighters stood with Daytona Beach city officials and used fire rescue cutters to cut through a metal ribbon, all while fireworks sparkled behind them.
Hundreds of fire fighters, city officials, community partners, and local residents were on hand for the grand opening of the new Daytona Beach firehouse on June 2.
The partially solar powered, $27 million facility located at 420 S. Ridgewood Ave in Daytona Beach replaced Daytona’s historic Fire Station 1, the oldest continuously operating fire station in Florida.
The ribbon cutting ceremony included speeches by Fire Chief Dru Driscoll, Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry, and Chaplain D. Arthur Wilcox, along with a rousing version of the national anthem sung by Kaye Brown.
“It fills my heart to bring in a facility that is equal to our historic home,” Driscoll said. “It’s a little bitter sweet for us because we love that building, but I think it’s the time and I think we’re doing it an honor by building this facility.”
Driscoll also said that a $15.2 million grant from the state of Florida was crucial to the success of the project, which he also said came in under budget. “This facility will give us 20 years of growth and then some,” he said.
Henry said he is happy about the future. “I am humbled and grateful for where we’ve come from, but I’m also grateful for where we are going,” he said.
Henry especially is impressed by the cutting edge technology for the fire fighters and what that means for Daytona residents. “It just sends a message to the community that says that Daytona Beach values public safety.”
He added that in his 15 years of service, this event was one of the great milestones.
“This makes my heart feel very nice,” Wilcox said. “This is a new beginning for the Daytona Fire Department.”
One of the features that affects Daytona residents most directly is the 90-seat community room. It will also serve as Daytona Beach’s primary Emergency Operations Center during disasters and emergencies. Multiple TV monitors in the room can show cameras around the city which will help locate where there is flooding and other needs for help during disasters.
