EVERGLADES CITY, Fla.- An accident that left 4 dead in Ochopee Wednesday has brought the number of deaths in remote East Collier County to 8, according to Ochopee Fire Chief Alan McLaughlin.  The trend has again shifted focus to response times by first responders in the remote area. 

Only an estimated 4,200 people live in the Everglades City Ochopee Fire District, but a lot of people drive through it, especially along the stretch of I-75 known as Alligator Alley and East Tamiami Trail.

"30,000 cars a day coming across, in a 24 hour period, on the alley this time of year.  We'll do probably 15-18 on 41 a day," Chief Alan McLaughlin said.

First responders cover a district of 840 square miles.  Including parts of Monroe County they respond to, Ochopee firefighters are responsible for 1,180 square miles.

The shear size of their response area and a shortage of manpower means much longer drive times for firefighters responding to an accident, most of which are on the alley and remote parts of U.S. 41.

"That's what they deal with all the time.  Two guys out here, 30 miles from any help coming to them in the middle of the night dealing with a head on vehicle or fire or something and that's all there is coming for 35-40 minutes," Chief McLaughlin said.

McLaughlin also recognizes the area's residents could be left hanging in the balance if firefighters aren't able to man the station.

"The burden of that is we loose the fire protection in the populated areas," Chief McLaughlin said.

Help is on the way though.  Governor Rick Scott signed off on legislation last year that dedicates excess toll revenue to develop and operate a fire and EMS station at mile marker 63 on the alley.

Construction is expected to begin in 2014.  On a related note, the station will be fully functional, but if a victim needs to be airlifted, Medflight will still have to travel to them from Naples.