Brevard County Fire Rescue / Palm Bay Partnership Promises Most Efficient Delivery of Emergency Services

(Brevard County, Fla.) - Fire and Emergency Medical Services in Palm Bay and South Brevard County will soon benefit from a new partnership designed to deliver the most efficient level of service to residents and will give the citizens of southwest Palm Bay a long awaited new fire station in their community.  On Tuesday, May 14^th, the Brevard County Board of County Commissioners approved an inter-agency agreement that allows each department’s resources to co-locate within each agency’s fire stations.  The Palm Bay City Council approved the agreement on April 18th.  The co-location allows the agencies to work together seamlessly while improving both the level of service and response times.

According to Brevard County Fire Chief Larry Collins, “Shrinking budgets and demands for increased service affect both departments. This sort of innovative thinking, however, demonstrates the agencies’ commitment to operating safely, effectively and efficiently, to the benefit of the citizens of both communities.”

The agreement stems from Harris Corporation’s decision to expand its Palm Bay Road facility.  The expansion encompasses the current site of Brevard County Fire-Rescue (BCFR) Station-84 which has created the need to relocate that facility.  The relocation requires BCFR to move several units.  As a result BCFR Station 84 will move to Palm Bay Fire-Rescue (PBFR) Station 1 which is located at 1201 Port Malabar Blvd., NE.  BCFR’S Rescue-85 will move to PBFR Station 2; and Palm Bay’s Engine 6 will move to BCFR Station 89 which will also become PBFR Station 6.  The new locations will place the emergency units closest to areas of higher call volume, providing for improved response times.

“This agreement creates efficient government and allows us to deliver the best service possible using all available resources,” said Palm Bay Fire Chief Jim Stables.  “The citizens in the southwest portion of the city will benefit the most by getting a new station with full response capability right in the heart of their community where it is most needed.”

BCFR Station 60 currently shares a similar co-location agreement with Cape Canaveral, as does BCFR Station 45 and Rockledge.

The changes will be implemented over the course of the next several months.

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