As part of training, Charlotte firefighters are in the middle of annual driver operation training including driving forward, backing up, and navigating three-point turns in narrow lanes marked by cones.

"It gives us a chance to let guys and girls get out and drive through obstacles, get a feel for the truck, get an idea of the spaces they can go through without hitting anything," Capt. Knight said. "Because different parts of town have different challenges. The outlining stations they may have bigger areas to drive as far congestion and cars parked on the side of the road as compared to, say, the downtown stations, more developed areas of Plaza Midwood, the Ballantyne areas."

Department leaders say the goal is for firefighters to get to a scene within six minutes of getting the call. Charlotte Fire officials say they meet that goal 80% of the time.

The driver of the pickup truck was cut from the truck and transported to Vidant Medical Center. He was reported to have been conscious and moving his arms as they wheeled him to the ambulance.

The wreck happened at the intersection of U.S. 264 and Old Creek Road between Greenville and Washington. It occurred about 150 yards west of the Pactolus Fire Station.

The new station boasts an area of about 18,000 square feet, most than double the space at the old fire station, which was around 7,000 square feet. (The old fire station, which was built in the 1960s, is now a Sendik’s Fresh2GO store.)

The estimated total cost of the station project is $5 million.

The construction of  Station 67 is part of Orange County’s major capital investment project, called INVEST in Our Home for Life. The $300 million initiative pours $30 million into construction, training, and new fire rescue equipment for five years.

Two more will be built with the funds; one in northeast Orlando in Avalon Park and the other in southeast Orlando, off Goldenrod Road and Silver Pointe Boulevard.

The old station served West Casper for more than 30 years, and a number of years before that as a volunteer station.

Casper Fire-EMS says the new station represents a great leap forward in facilities and technology. The project was slated to cost 3.4 million dollars, to be paid for with Optional One Cent Funds.