MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — The City of Bradenton has approved plans to build a new $7.9 million fire station.

Gene Brown, the Mayor of Bradenton, says that because of its central location, it will cut two minutes off the response time to eastern and southern parts of the city.

“When you talk about cutting time down for someone having a heart attack or in an accident, having something that’s wrong, those seconds count,” said Brown.

According to the Bradenton Fire Department, Fire Station 2 on Seventh Avenue East has been in use for more than 50 years.

Fire Chief Tim Geer says it no longer meets building, fire or safety standards. That’s one of the reasons the city approved plans to build a new station at 2229 Manatee Avenue East that will replace the old Fire Station 2.

The new fire station will be three times larger with new additions.

Fire Chief Tim Geer, who has been with the Bradenton Fire Department for more than 27 years, says it’s cheaper to build than renovate the old one.

He hopes this facility will be used for decades to come, just like the old one.

“This has been in the works now for a couple of years with planning,” he said. “Our main goal is to improve response times and have new and modern equipment to make that happen and the positive effect that it has on the community.”

The new fire station will be more than 15,000 square feet, two stories high, and will provide more space for first responders, especially during emergency weather situations.

It will include a dining room, six dorms, showers, a kitchen, gym and other amenities.

A unique addition is a fireman’s pole that Geer says will get firefighters to the trucks faster.

This station will also have drive through bays to allow quicker response to the south end of the city as well as avoid backing incidents.

“We will be able to head on Manatee Avenue and head each direction quickly,” said Geer. “Especially that 27th Avenue corridor where we have neighborhoods being built.”

Chief Geer knows it’s about working as a team to respond to people as fast as possible, making every second count.

According to Mayor Gene Brown and Bradenton Fire Department officials, the city plans on breaking ground in June and will be finished and in service starting in late 2025.