As more people live and work in North Myrtle Beach, demand for emergency services grows.
With an anticipated growth spurt in city limits west of the Intracoastal Waterway, the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety has started to analyze the potential need for additional fire stations in the area.
Jay Fernandez, director of public safety, says the department continues work with a local contractor to develop site plans for two additional fire stations. Fernandez says the stations would be built in the area of Watertower Road/SC-31 and near the new North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex.
“We must meet the ISO standards,” Fernandez explained, once the two areas begin to develop. “you have to have a fire station 1.5 miles from every home. We do not have that in these areas currently.”
Fernandez says he expects each of the stations to cost more than $3 million to build. He also expects to move the city’s emergency management headquarters, some training operations and other departments into the proposed station near the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex.
Battalion Chief Mike Davis says while the idea would progress fire protection in the city, it would also improve response times. Davis says right now, it takes the closest fire stations upwards of three to four minutes to respond to emergencies in the two areas.
“Depending on weather conditions, having a station right there would obviously increase that response time dramatically,” he explained.
Fernandez says the city would need to increase its number of firefighters on staff to keep the proposed stations open. He said once the stations are built, upwards of 15 firefighters would be needed per building. Fernandez says he would also plan to hire additional police officers to work out of substations in the buildings.
“We’re looking at possibly 30, 35 additional firefighters if and when these stations come on board,” he said.
The director says progress on the project will all depend on residential and commercial development west of the waterway in the next two to ten years. Fernandez says once developers start announcing new projects and breaking ground, he will take his strategy to the North Myrtle Beach City Council.
Ultimately, if the need is there for additional fire stations, city council would need to approve the project and funding before moving forward.
“We’re trying to have managed growth, which I think is our key. I think its our key going forward,” Fernandez said.
With an anticipated growth spurt in city limits west of the Intracoastal Waterway, the North Myrtle Beach Department of Public Safety has started to analyze the potential need for additional fire stations in the area.
Jay Fernandez, director of public safety, says the department continues work with a local contractor to develop site plans for two additional fire stations. Fernandez says the stations would be built in the area of Watertower Road/SC-31 and near the new North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex.
“We must meet the ISO standards,” Fernandez explained, once the two areas begin to develop. “you have to have a fire station 1.5 miles from every home. We do not have that in these areas currently.”
Fernandez says he expects each of the stations to cost more than $3 million to build. He also expects to move the city’s emergency management headquarters, some training operations and other departments into the proposed station near the North Myrtle Beach Sports Complex.
Battalion Chief Mike Davis says while the idea would progress fire protection in the city, it would also improve response times. Davis says right now, it takes the closest fire stations upwards of three to four minutes to respond to emergencies in the two areas.
“Depending on weather conditions, having a station right there would obviously increase that response time dramatically,” he explained.
Fernandez says the city would need to increase its number of firefighters on staff to keep the proposed stations open. He said once the stations are built, upwards of 15 firefighters would be needed per building. Fernandez says he would also plan to hire additional police officers to work out of substations in the buildings.
“We’re looking at possibly 30, 35 additional firefighters if and when these stations come on board,” he said.
The director says progress on the project will all depend on residential and commercial development west of the waterway in the next two to ten years. Fernandez says once developers start announcing new projects and breaking ground, he will take his strategy to the North Myrtle Beach City Council.
Ultimately, if the need is there for additional fire stations, city council would need to approve the project and funding before moving forward.
“We’re trying to have managed growth, which I think is our key. I think its our key going forward,” Fernandez said.
