The City of Oakland Park was awarded a grant of more than $1,085,000 to harden Fire Station 20, located at 4721 NW 9th Avenue. The funding is from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, which is administered by the Florida Division of Emergency Management’s Mitigation Bureau.
The hardening project will include the installation of hurricane wind-resistant windows and doors to protect the Fire Station against significant wind events. The existing roof will also be replaced. The project will safeguard against the disruption of power during and after a storm through the addition of a permanent standby generator, which will be able to provide continuous power to the entire station for up to two days in an emergency. This backup power source will ensure that the facility can function through an event and then immediately after, providing service to the community at full capability.
The City of Oakland Park provides fire and emergency rescue services over an area of approximately nine square miles with more than 44,000 residents. In addition, the City participates in a mutual aid agreement with several neighboring communities, including Broward County Fire Rescue. Fire Station 20 is the closest Fire Rescue Station to the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport and responds to emergency calls along major roadways, including I-95.
These improvements are part of ongoing efforts to support Oakland Park’s Fire Rescue Department and provide state-of-the-art fire rescue services and operations to the community. Other projects include constructing a new Fire Station 9, underway on Park Lane East at NE 6th Avenue, and making upgrades to Fire Station 87 on NW 39th Street.
Since 2015, the City has secured more than $50 million in grant funding that has been used towards projects including the LERIX pump station, the playground at North Andrews Gardens, Andrews Avenue roadway improvements, sidewalks surrounding Oakland Park Elementary, and building the Public Works Emergency Operations Center.