FLORENCE, SC (WBTW) – Growth in western Florence has prompted the city to open a new fire station. A grand opening ceremony was held Thursday for Florence Fire Department Station Six.
During the ceremony, participants uncoupled a fire hose instead of cutting a ribbon.
According to chef Shannon Tanner, the new station is just part of the expansion. The project also involved moving fire station four to a new location to better accommodate western Florence.
“Growth increased our response times and resulted in inadequate coverage for arriving citizens,” Tanner said.
Tanner said that as Florence annexed more land along West Palmetto Street, it became clear that some changes in her department were needed.
“We moved our station four and built this station, station six,” he explained. “In doing so, we’ve kind of closed that gap and now it’s taking us to our limits of growth.”
The growth of western Florence has attracted more attention than local government – several businesses have recently moved to the area.
“Growth along Palmetto – it’s starting to pop,” said Patrick Mahon, head brewer at Local Motive Brewing Company. “Things are starting to move.”
Mahon said Local Motive moved to West Palmetto from its downtown location nine months ago and hasn’t looked back.
“You’re right along Palmetto, but you don’t feel like you’re right along Palmetto,” Mahon said of the new location. “You don’t hear cars, all you can see are trees and we’re right next to the Rail Trail so you can ride a bike. Many of our clients live on this side anyway, so we are closer to them now than we were.
Geoff Akins, director of Phil’s Bicycle World, said the store had been in West Palmetto for 18 years. He said that in his four years with the store, he has witnessed much of the region’s growth firsthand.
“It kind of happened organically. Some of it was planned, but we were just lucky to have some great people coming in and being part of what we grow,” he said “It’s something Florence really needs.”
Although businesses in the area will benefit from the new station, Tanner said the biggest impact will be on property owners in West Florence.
“When they need help they can call and we’ll be there,” he said.
Tanner said the ceremony took place almost exactly one year after construction began.
Station Six is now home to four firefighters and their truck, with room to grow in the future.
The inauguration of the new Station Four site is scheduled for mid-April.