MIRAMAR BEACH, Fla. --- For the past two years, the sights and sounds of progress for local emergency services could be seen and heard along S. Geronimo Street in Miramar Beach. 

This progress required equal parts of vision, patience, and passion to create a new home for the South Walton Fire District in Miramar Beach. Thanks to the right mix of these ingredients, the District can officially celebrate the total transformation of a 1980s-era metal fire station into what is now a 10,000 square foot facility with modern upgrades.

“It was clear the facility needed to grow based on the growth of the community around it, as well as the condition of the building itself,” said SWFD Fire Chief Ryan Crawford. “We can look at what we have now and know we’re built better from an emergency response standpoint, as well as a facilities standpoint when you consider this new building’s capabilities to withstand hurricanes and severe weather.”

The original fire station on S. Geronimo Street was built in 1989 and housed one fire engine. As the Miramar Beach community grew, the Fire District adapted by adding an ambulance in 2008, then a Battalion Chief in 2022. These changes brought the total number of response units assigned to the Miramar Beach fire station to three.

The District began reconstruction on the facility in 2023 in a phased approach so the fire station could remain operational. The construction included a new station layout and design, increased square footage, room to house as many as nine firefighters, and a larger apparatus bay suited for as many as four apparatuses.

“Our Board of Fire Commissioners led the way for us through the budgeting and planning process,” Crawford said. “What’s unique about this project was the funding mechanism with 68 percent of the dollars used coming from impact fees, allowing us to grow the station’s footprint and enhance emergency services in Miramar Beach.”

Like other governmental entities, SWFD collects a one-time impact fee on new residential or commercial construction within its jurisdiction to help pay for the additional fire protection facilities, equipment, and infrastructure needed to serve that new growth. 

The fire station reconstruction and expansion project presented the ideal opportunity for the District to utilize impact fee revenue as part of the funding plan for this expansion. In addition, District leadership strategically set aside funds over multiple budget cycles, allowing the project to be paid for entirely “in cash.” This forward-thinking approach eliminated the need to borrow money, saving taxpayers from the added expense of loan interest.

As one of the final steps in celebrating the reconstruction progress was to hold an Open House at Station 5 on September 23 and invite the community into the facility. 

Activities for the evening included fire station tours, family-friendly activities, educational booths, refreshments, and plenty of fellowship.

“We want our residents and visitors to see this investment and take some pride and ownership in the role it will play in our community’s well-being,” Crawford said. “Each improvement we make is ultimately about making ourselves better for them, so it was rewarding to see that positivity reciprocated from everyone in attendance.”

SWFD thanks its Board of Fire Commissioners, administrative staff, construction teams and contractors, as well as all operational personnel, who all contributed to the reconstruction project. The community is encouraged to continue to stop by the fire station at 217. S. Geronimo Street in Miramar Beach and view the advancements.