Sandy Springs moves ahead to build new fire station on Mount Vernon Road

Sandy has approved the construction of a new fire station at 7800 Mount Vernon Road in the city’s Panhandle district. (Courtesy City of Sandy Springs)

Sandy has approved the construction of a new fire station at 7800 Mount Vernon Road in the city’s Panhandle district. (Courtesy City of Sandy Springs)

Following a lengthy investigative and planning process, surveys and community meetings, the Sandy Springs City Council has approved the construction of a new fire station at 7800 Mount Vernon Road in the city’s Panhandle district.

“We’ve been working on this for a long time,” said Mayor Rusty Paul. “I am pleased we are able to move this important project forward. The station will help improve response times and save lives.”

The 11,500 square-foot Fire Station No. 5 will be constructed to blend in with the residential character of the neighborhood at the intersection of Spalding Drive and Mount Vernon Road.

The city feels this new station is needed to reduce response time since the Panhandle area is currently served by Fire Station No. 51, on Spalding Drive at Roberts Road, with support from Engine 55, housed at Roswell’s Fire Station No. 27 on Holcomb Bridge Road. Response time to reach some areas within this district can take as much as 10 to 15 minutes.

“For someone experiencing a cardiac arrest, irreversible brain damage can occur after four to six minutes without proper treatment and death after 10 minutes,” noted information from the city. “An estimated 80% of sudden cardiac arrest incidents occur at home. A fire doubles in size every 30 seconds. The chance of injury or death for civilians and firefighters increases alongside the growth of that fire.”

Information www.sandyspringsga.gov, or the Citizen Response Center at 770-730-5600.