Fort Myers Beach fire station seeks move to optimize response time

Traffic congestion has impeded Fort Myers Beach fire stations from responding rapidly to emergencies, leading it to find a more strategic location.

The fire dept. also needs a large functional space. Right now, Fire Station 31 at Estero and Donora Blvds. is outdated — it needs a bigger space to rebuild.

The fire dept. is searching for a new spot after nearly 70 years. The current location does not work because any new construction has to meet height and setback restrictions.

Based on research, the dept. said a Delmar Ave. location would serve the most considerable demand with the quickest response time: four minutes.

But the challenge for Station 31 and next steps are finding land available that is also affordable.