Alachua County and city of Alachua officials celebrated Friday the opening of the county’s new Fire Station 21 off US 441 near Santa Fe High School and I-75.  

Alachua County will hold a public open house for the station (16121 NW 173rd St.) on Saturday with tours, hot dogs and games for children including squirting water hoses and dressing in firefighter gear. The event will last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.   

Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) Chief Harold Theus said the crew moved into the space a couple weeks ago to work out any issues before the public opening. But the crew saved the first raising of the American flag for Friday’s official opening.  

Officials from both Alachua County and the city of Alachua, who will primarily be served from the station, also decoupled a fire hose to mark the occasion.  

“A lot has gone into this location, and a lot has gone into this property,” Theus said. “We’re so very excited to be here, and we’re very excited about serving the community in this area for the next 50 years as this station is here.” 

Station 21 used to be located off the corner of US 441 and NW 140th Street in Alachua.   

Theus said the county began looking for a new station site about five years ago. But he said property prices started climbing after the COVID-19 pandemic, with prices nearing $1 million for the land needed.  

On the property appraiser’s website, Theus noticed a potential parcel. He said it was connected to the Tower Hill Insurance development currently under construction, a roughly 300-acre site.  

Theus reached out to the owners to see if they’d be interested in selling a 2-acre part of the land for the first station. An agreement was reached, and Alachua County paid $45,000 for the site. 

The total budget for the new 11,500-square-foot station was $7 million. 

Later this year, Theus said the county plans to start construction on another station at San Falasco Tech City that will also cover the city of Alachua.  

Alachua Assistant City Manager Rodolfo Valladares thanked the people who made the new station a reality and said officials are proud to present a state-of-the-art facility for the first responders. 

“This station represents more than brick and mortar; it stands as a powerful symbol of our community’s enduring commitment to safety, service and preparedness,” Valladares said. 

The station will have five on-duty staff 24/7, and Theus said it will also house Battalion 7, which is responsible for managing the northwest corner of the county. The station also has a new fire truck to work with, delivered a few weeks ago.