"We are very thankful for the citizens that support us in this endeavor. We have purchased this piece of property about four years ago, and it's exciting that we are breaking ground today to provide the service that these residents greatly need and reduce those response times, which is something very important as well with today's fire development," ESD 15 Commissioner Jason "Bear" Wilson said during the groundbreaking event. "We're excited to build this station."
ESD 15 was formed just over 15 years ago, Sykora said, and opened the first station it funded on Telge Road about six years ago. Station No. 5 is located at 19900 Telge Road, Tomball.
"This will actually complete their territory as of right now, unless it gets more populous, which we are expecting," Sykora said. "This is a great day ... for the future—the future of Harris County and the future of the city of Tomball. This station will protect approximately 2 square miles of our territory and reduce the response times by over five minutes."
Sykora previously said in February the department projected a 21% increase per 1,000 people in calls from the southeast region, which the new Station No. 4 will help address.
Mayor Lori Klein Quinn recalled how the Mahaffey Road area has grown, the land the station is slated for previously being a prairie.
"To see the growth in this area and to see the community partnerships that are so important to the service of our citizens in Harris County and Tomball, I'm delighted to be here," she said.
