Sarasota County opens new fire station

Sarasota County officials today celebrated the opening of the county’s newest fire station, located on DeSoto Road, just west of The Mall at University Town Center and Nathan Benderson Park.

Officials said the new station, No. 17, will improve emergency response times to the area east along the University Parkway corridor and east of Interstate 75.

The new station has a fire engine and ambulance and is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Previously, the county had a temporary station just north of Benderson park, but it was not staffed with an ambulance full time.

“We’re always looking to make sure we have enough coverage,” Sarasota County Fire Chief Michael Regnier said. “We are on the edge of our response area with this station. It augments our coverage.”