SANFORD, Fla. — With three fire stations already planted in the city of Sanford, the fire department can officially look forward to a fourth location.

City commissioners recently approved the use of the One Cent Local Government Infrastructure Surtax in the amount of $4 million for the construction.

The department’s last fire station was built in 1991, with about 32,000 residents living in the city at that time

“We’re getting a little ahead which is a good thing (...) it’s better to get ahead,” said Sanford Fire Chief Ronnie McNeal Jr.

The station will be built on land at the Orlando Sanford International Airport next to the Boombah Sports Complex.

Right now Fire Station 32 responds to residential and businesses calls in that area.

McNeal Jr. says there is a lot of construction going on in that area, with over 100 single-family homes and 150 townhomes being put up.

“Our construction for the station shouldn’t affect them because its set off the ways there, but it will increase our response times getting there,” he said.

McNeal Jr. adds that they’ve already hired 12 new fire EMS to prepare them for the new station and plan to hire six more.

“In 2005 our geographic in our area has changed quite a bit over the time so the response times have increased because there're more calls of service in that area, so we’re looking to add them in with station 40 and have them cover that moving forward.”

Chief McNeal says since December they’ve been working with the airport on drainage projects that need to be completed as well as other key elements before they can break ground.

“We’re going to have multistory and big commercial complexes out there, so we have to plan,” he said.

They hope to start construction by the end of the year.

The new station will be known as Station 40.