McKinney opens seventh fire station

McKinney fire officials marked the grand opening of their seventh fire station last Saturday. The station on South Independence Parkway was located to provide increased and quicker access to homes, buildings and other structures in western McKinney.

The station aims to provide service to structures west of Custer Road. The nearest station before the opening of Fire Station No. 7 was Fire Station No. 3 at 4269 Eldorado Parkway, according to the McKinney Fire Department’s website.

The grand opening of the new station that has been in operation for the previous month featured a traditional honor guard ceremony, comments from several local leaders, a housing of the apparatus for the station and an open house for those in attendance.

The newest station stands at nearly 15,000 square feet and cost an estimated $4,220,207 in construction and building costs. The station includes all the regular facilities of their previous fire stations such as a 50 seat community room for private and public use.

McKinney Assistant Fire Chief Frank Roma said late last week the station aims to provide increased service to areas of the city with low response times.

“The station is currently serving an area of our community that is in one of the extreme ends of our response profile,” Assistant Fire Chief Frank Roma said. “It provides safety and protection to a rapidly growing and developing area.”

McKinney Fire Chief Mark Wallace said in a released statement that the station stands as a testament to the hard work and planning provided by the city and fire department.

“This station reflects the planning and practice of strategically placing resources, and most importantly, highly trained fire and EMS professionals in areas where service is needed in a growing community such as ours,” Wallace said.
By Danny Gallagher, The McKinney Courier-Gazette