Special City Commission Meeting on Fire Stations - November 3, 2025

The Deltona City Commission held a special meeting on November 3, 2025, focusing exclusively on the Fire Stations project. The Interim Fire Chief, Chief Bush Wisher, presented a data-driven proposal to update, relocate, and add fire stations to improve response times and coverage. The meeting included public comments, commission discussion, and direction to staff, but no formal vote was taken.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Unidentified Speaker: Expressed full support for the fire chief’s recommendations, noting that two different statistical approaches confirmed the need for improvement. He also highlighted that the communications dispatch time (3 minutes and 3 seconds, county-controlled) is a major problem and should be addressed separately.
• Courtney Crossberg: Expressed 100% support for the fire department, asked whether accreditation could help secure grants, and questioned the coverage impact of relocating Station 62 from Diamond Street. She lives in Twin Lakes and sought clarification on which areas would still be covered.

Discussion Items

• Chief Bush Wisher’s Presentation: Covered current stations (61–65), call volume growth of 44% over 14 years (from 8,311 in 2010 to 11,950 in 2024), NFPA/ISO benchmarks, and a strategic placement analysis. Current performance meets criteria 54.07% of the time; with proposed changes, projected performance rises to 67.54%. Proposal includes rebuilding Station 64 on enlarged property, relocating Station 62 to two new locations (62A near Saxon and Normandy, 62B near Providence and Murphy), and adding a new station in District 1. This would expand from 5 to 7 stations. The chief noted that Fitch and Associates recommended 8–11 stations for a 6–7 minute travel time, but 21 stations for 4 minutes.
• Commissioner Nabicht: Expressed full support for new stations but stressed that equipment and manpower are what save lives. He criticized the 3-minute dispatch time and suggested staffing a new squad with 6 personnel instead of 3 to improve response. He advocated prioritizing rebuilding Station 64 and adding personnel/equipment before building new stations, and recommended using developer funds for property acquisition.
• Commissioner Howington: Asked about using satellite locations for transport units, noting the communications hub at Sterling Silver and Saxon. She also asked whether future subdivisions and traffic growth were factored in; the chief confirmed they were via GIS layers.
• Commissioner Colwell: Expressed full support. Asked about acquiring adjacent land for Station 64 and expansion possibilities for Station 63. Discussed vertical construction and turnout time concerns.
• Commissioner Santiago: Thanked the chief, stated support, and proposed a “core station” model with larger stations surrounded by smaller satellite stations. He inquired about the fourth transport unit and offered commission assistance in county negotiations.
• Vice Mayor Heriot: Agreed that firefighters and paramedics are key. Asked about current hospital wall time (reported at ~45 minutes recently). Supported the SAFER grant application and asked for a multi-year staffing plan. Advised using a consistent architectural design for new stations to improve familiarity and reduce turnout times.
• Mayor Avila: Asked about micro-fire stations as an option for high-ambulance-call areas. Chief responded that core stations are needed first, but satellite stations could follow.
• Commissioner Avila-Vazquez: Noted that Station 62 is important for I-4 responses and questioned how relocation might impact that coverage.

Key Outcomes

• No formal vote was taken; the commission expressed consensus to move forward strategically.
• The commission directed staff to prioritize rebuilding Station 64 (with adjacent land acquisition) and continue pursuing property for District 1 and the two 62 replacement sites.
• Staff will seek the SAFER grant to increase staffing and will negotiate with Volusia County for approval of a fourth transport unit.
• The city manager will arrange a meeting with county officials to resolve transport authority issues.
• The commission requested that future station designs be consistent (standardized architectural plans) and that property negotiations remain confidential to ensure fair pricing.
• The meeting adjourned at 5:54 PM.