St. Cloud Fire Rescue officially opened Fire Station 34 last week on Nora Tyson Road on the east side of St. Cloud with an uncoupling and wet-down pushback ceremony. The addition of the $1.6 million station is expected to significantly improve emergency response times for residents in the rapidly growing area, ensuring faster and more efficient services, especially in the Narcoossee Road and Nova Road corridors.
This state-of-the-art facility is fully staffed around the clock by a dedicated team of 18 professionals, supported by a fire engine and a rescue squad, ensuring that the community receives swift and effective emergency services.
During the ‘uncoupling – ribbon cutting ceremony, St. Cloud Mayor Nathan Blackwell highlighted the city’s challenges due to exponential growth, emphasizing the importance of meeting residents’ safety needs. The city currently has four fire stations, the same number of stations Kissimmee currently has.
Fire Station 34 is part of St. Cloud’s strategic plan to expand its emergency response infrastructure, reflecting the city’s rapid population growth. According to the US Census Bureau, around 120,000 people moved to Osceola County between 2010 and 2020, with many settling in St. Cloud.
The wet-down pushback tradition originates from the late 1800s, a time when fire departments relied on horse-drawn apparatus to respond to emergencies. After battling a fire, firefighters would wash and prepare both the horses and the equipment, then manually push the apparatus back into the station’s bay. This practice has evolved into a ceremonial event, where many fire departments today celebrate the arrival of a new fire apparatus by spraying it with water and symbolically pushing it into the station, marking its official commissioning and readiness for service.
Future plans include constructing Fire Station 35 in the Neptune Road and Tohoqua area and an upgrade to Fire Station 32 in the city’s southwest side.
Photo Source: St. Cloud Fir Rescue
