Pasco County officials have officially begun construction on the new Fire Station 19, a cutting-edge facility designed to protect both firefighters and the community. The groundbreaking took place Tuesday at the site of the old station, which was damaged by recent hurricanes and has since been replaced by temporary accommodations. The planned two-story firehouse will feature advanced safety measures aimed at reducing health risks for firefighters, who face a 14% higher risk of cancer compared to the general population. “We take pride in investing in our firefighter safety and their health. It’s extremely important to us,” Lisa Yeager, a Pasco County commissioner, said. The 18,000-square-foot facility will include designated “hot,” “warm" and “cool” zones to limit exposure to carcinogens. These zones separate areas where fire trucks return, decontamination spaces and living quarters. “If we can keep the contaminations and carcinogens outside in the bays, it lowers our exposure time and helps keep us healthier,” Chief Ryan Guynn of Pasco County Fire Rescue said. Additional features include Cat-5 hurricane-resistant construction, air filtration systems and vacuum systems to remove chemical fumes. The station is also designed with future growth in mind, allowing for more trucks and staff as Pasco County’s population expands.