SFFD responds to all sorts of events like structure fires, hazmat situations, swift water rescues and more, but a big portion of the thousands of calls they get each year are medical emergencies.  

While the department has served the community with emergency medical services for 40 years, a new division of the department will now focus on this and community outreach.

"This will be a new effort for us," said Greg Cliburn, Assistant Chief of EMS for the Santa Fe Fire Department.

The fire station will serve as home to crews, with a permanent station to be completed within four years on Reams Road, south of Summerlake Park Boulevard. Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings was joined by District 1 County Commissioner Betsy VanderLey and dignitaries for the ceremonial ribbon cutting. Due to rapid growth in the area, the station was implemented to address the immediate needs of the community.

The 8th Utilities District is a special taxing district that provides fire and sanitary sewer services to the northern third of town.

Fire Chief Daniel Langer said that the new Engine 1 will be posted at the department’s Station 3, which is across from BJ’s Wholesale Club on Tolland Turnpike.  

The new engine, a Saber model from Florida-based Pierce manufacturing, arrived in Connecticut at the end of March. The new Engine 1 cost $458,650. In comparison, he said, it cost the department about $680,000 to buy a custom-built engine three years ago.