Southeast Lake Wales Fire Station Construction Underway 2026

Key Points

• Construction has started on Fire Station Three, Lake Wales’ third fire station.
• The new station will be constructed at the intersection of Nest Egg Road and Hunt Brothers Road in southeast Lake Wales.
• Fire Station Three will cover an area of 9,000 square feet.
• The station will aid in reducing the response time in the city’s developing southeast.
• Lake Wales Firefighter/Paramedic Martin Ramos said that 10 to 13 calls can be made by the crews on some days.
• About 1,200 people have settled down in Lake Wales over the last six years according to the city fire department.
• The Fire Chief of Lake Wales Jonathan Smith said that the station will enhance coverage for proposed industrial development, recreation zones, and southern neighborhoods.
• Existing firefighters will help staff the station, while another three firefighters will be added to the staff.
• The station will become functional next fall.

Wales (Wales Times) October 22, 2026 – Construction is under way on a new fire station in southeast Lake Wales as the city prepares for further population growth and rising demand for emergency services.

The project, known as Fire Station Three, will be a 9,000-square-foot facility at the intersection of Nest Egg Road and Hunt Brothers Road. It will become the Lake uk/fire/">Wales Fire Department’s third station and is expected to be operational by next autumn, according to reporting by Tampa Bay 28.

The development comes as city officials and firefighters respond to changes in Lake Wales’ landscape. The department said about 1,200 people have moved to the city over the last six years, while new housing, traffic and development have expanded the areas requiring emergency coverage.

Why Is Lake Wales Building A Third Fire Station?

Lake Wales is building Fire Station Three because its southeastern response area has grown and officials expect further development in the area.

As reported by Tampa Bay 28, Lake Wales Firefighter/Paramedic Martin Ramos said call volumes vary through the day. He said firefighters can attend as many as 10 to 13 calls on certain days, with demand typically increasing when seasonal visitors return to the area.

Ramos, who has worked for the department for five years, told Tampa Bay 28 that he has seen orange groves replaced by new homes, increased traffic and development.

“We have a lot of houses coming around this area that means a lot more family, residences, things that we have to respond to,” Ramos said, as quoted by Tampa Bay 28.

The new station is designed to place crews closer to parts of southeast Lake Wales that are currently on the outer edge of the department’s response area.

Where Will The New Fire Station Be Located?

Fire Station Three will be built at the intersection of Nest Egg Road and Hunt Brothers Road in southeast Lake Wales.

The location was selected to support faster emergency response across the southeastern part of the city, including areas expected to see industrial and recreational development.

According to Tampa Bay 28, the facility will measure 9,000 square feet. The report did not provide a construction cost, contractor name or detailed completion date beyond the expected operational timeframe of next autumn.

How Will The Station Improve Emergency Response?

Fire Chief Jonathan Smith said the southeast Lake Wales station will allow the department to respond more efficiently to the southeastern area, including planned industrial development and nearby recreational areas.

“There’s going to be an industrial area that’s going to be coming here. The ability to respond to the recreational area that is down the road here, that’s going to be a lot faster. As well as the area here to the south that we already cover,” Smith said, according to Tampa Bay 28.

He added that these locations are currently on the outer edges of the department’s response area. While they remain within a five-mile response range, Smith said the new station would “certainly increase that efficiency.”

The station is expected to reduce travel distances for crews responding to emergencies in southeast Lake Wales. It will also provide a base closer to future industrial sites and recreational facilities that could generate additional service calls.

Who Will Staff Fire Station Three?

Current Lake Wales firefighters will help staff the new station, with three additional positions planned.

Tampa Bay 28 reported that the department intends to use existing personnel alongside the new roles to operate Fire Station Three. The report did not specify when the additional positions would be filled or whether recruitment is already under way.

The staffing plan suggests the city is preparing for a gradual expansion of fire and emergency medical coverage rather than an immediate large-scale increase in personnel.

What Has Changed In Lake Wales?

Lake Wales has experienced population growth over the past six years, with about 1,200 new residents moving to the city during that period.

Firefighter/Paramedic Martin Ramos told Tampa Bay 28 that the change is visible across the area, where former orange groves have been replaced by housing developments. He said the growth has brought more residences, families and traffic, all of which affect the department’s workload.

The department typically sees an increase in calls when seasonal visitors return to the area, according to Ramos. Seasonal population changes can place additional pressure on emergency services, particularly during periods when more people are present in the community.

Background Of The Development

Lake Wales is a city in Polk County, Florida, and its fire department currently operates from existing stations while covering a response area that includes the city’s southeastern edges. The decision to build Fire Station Three follows several years of residential growth and planning for new industrial and recreational development in the southeast.

The project reflects a wider pattern in growing Florida communities, where new housing and commercial development can increase the number of emergency calls and extend the distance crews must travel. City and fire officials have framed the new station as a response to those changing conditions rather than a reaction to a single incident.

The station’s planned location near Nest Egg Road and Hunt Brothers Road places it close to areas identified by Chief Jonathan Smith as important for future coverage. These include land expected to be developed for industrial use, recreational areas further along the road network and existing neighbourhoods to the south.

The department has not announced a formal opening date, but Tampa Bay 28 reported that Fire Station Three is expected to be operational by next autumn.

Prediction: What Could This Mean For Lake Wales Residents?

For residents of southeast Lake Wales, the new station could mean emergency crews are stationed closer to their neighbourhoods, potentially improving response efficiency as the area develops.

For households in newly built developments, the project may provide additional reassurance that fire and paramedic services will be available nearby as the population increases. For businesses and workers connected to the planned industrial area, a local station could become part of the area’s emergency infrastructure as new sites open.

For existing Lake Wales residents, the station may help distribute demand across the fire department’s three stations. As call volumes rise with seasonal visitors and new housing, additional capacity could reduce the pressure on crews operating from current locations.

The full effect will depend on the station’s final staffing levels, the pace of development in southeast Lake Wales and the number of emergency calls generated by new homes, industrial sites and recreational facilities. If the project opens as expected next autumn, residents should watch for updates from the Lake Wales Fire Department on staffing, response coverage and the station’s official launch.