On January 9, 2026, the City of DeBary cut the ribbon on Fire Station 39 at 798 Fort Florida Road, the city’s second fire station and its newest firehouse in more than eight years. More than 150 residents toured the building at the open house that followed. For families in the fast-growing southwest part of town, the new station changes something that matters every day, even if you never think about it: how long it takes help to arrive. Here is what Station 39 means for your neighborhood, how it fits into DeBary’s long fire service history, and how the DeBary Volunteer Fire Support Team and our neighbors helped get it ready.
Station 39 at a glance
| Item | What we know |
|---|---|
| Opened | Ribbon-cutting and community open house, January 9, 2026 |
| Address | 798 Fort Florida Road, DeBary |
| Location | Southwest DeBary, west of the railroad tracks, near the St. Johns River |
| Cost | About $6 million for the building, as reported by WKMG News 6 |
| Funding | A $1.25 million state appropriation helped complete the project; the Sanford Herald reports funds were set aside in Florida’s 2022 state budget |
| Staffing | Orange City Fire Department, through the City of DeBary’s fire services contract |
| Ownership | The City of DeBary owns and maintains the facilities and equipment |
The project was not quick or easy. News 6 reported that rising construction costs and funding challenges delayed it for years before the state appropriation made completion possible. Mayor Chasez described the result at the ceremony this way, according to the Sanford Herald:
“This station is more than just bricks and mortar – it represents safety, preparedness, and our strong commitment”
— DeBary Mayor Chasez, as quoted by the Sanford Herald
State Senator Tom Wright, State Representatives Richard Gentry and Webster Barnaby, and Orange City officials were among those who attended.
Why DeBary needed a second station
For years, all of DeBary was covered from a single station. That works well for neighborhoods near the station, but DeBary has grown, and much of the new growth has been on the south and southwest sides of the city. Just as important, the railroad line that carries SunRail trains runs right through town. For a fire engine, a track crossing is a potential delay, especially if a train is passing at the wrong moment.
Placing Station 39 west of the tracks was a deliberate choice. City Manager Carmen Rosamonda told WKMG News 6:
“Being on the west side of the railroad tracks was very important to us.”
— DeBary City Manager Carmen Rosamonda, to WKMG News 6
Fire Chief Ronnie Long put it plainly: “It’s pretty critical. There are a lot of communities being built on the south end of DeBary.”
From 11 minutes to 4 minutes
According to the city, response times for residents farthest from the existing station are expected to drop from about 11 minutes to about 4 minutes. That is the difference between firefighters arriving to a room-and-contents fire and arriving to a house fully involved in flames. It matters just as much for medical calls. The American Heart Association reports that most out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, and that immediate CPR can double or triple the chance of survival. Every minute shaved off the time before trained crews arrive with a defibrillator and advanced care counts.
Closer to the St. Johns River
DeBary sits along the St. Johns River, Lake Monroe and a network of creeks and canals that draw boaters, anglers and paddlers year-round. Station 39’s location close to the river gives crews a quicker path to water emergencies on the southwest side of town. Chief Long told News 6 that crews will “be able to take the boat just to the corner right here and be able to launch from Alexander Island in the future.”
If you spend time on the river, make it easy for rescuers: file a float plan with someone on shore, wear a life jacket, carry a charged phone in a waterproof case, and know your location. When you call 911 from the water, landmarks like bridges, marinas and named creeks help dispatchers send help to the right place.
What an ISO rating means for your insurance
City leaders noted that Station 39 helps maintain DeBary’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating and that homeowners may see lower insurance rates. Here is what that means.
ISO, part of the analytics company Verisk, assigns communities a Public Protection Classification (PPC) from 1 to 10. Class 1 generally represents superior property fire protection; Class 10 means a community’s fire suppression program does not meet ISO’s minimum criteria. According to Verisk, virtually all U.S. home and business insurers use PPC ratings when calculating premiums, and, with other factors equal, fire insurance is generally much cheaper in communities with good ratings.
What goes into the rating
- Fire department capability (the largest share of the score): stations, apparatus, staffing, training and distribution of companies
- Water supply: hydrants and the system’s ability to deliver water for firefighting
- Emergency communications: 911 call handling and dispatch
- Community risk reduction: prevention, public education and investigation
Distance matters too. ISO’s classification materials distinguish properties within five road miles of a fire station, and within 1,000 feet of a creditable water supply such as a hydrant, from properties farther away. A second station shortens those distances for many homes.
Who staffs Station 39
Since 2009, fire and rescue service in DeBary has been provided by contract with the Orange City Fire Department. The City of DeBary owns and maintains the stations and equipment, and Orange City provides the firefighters. Station 39 follows the same model as Station 33, which opened in July 2017.
It is worth repeating, because people often ask: the DeBary Volunteer Fire Support Team is not the fire department. We are a volunteer association, founded in 1953 as DeBary’s original volunteer fire company, that now supports the professional firefighters who serve our city. If you have an emergency, call 911. If you have a question about fire department operations, contact the City of DeBary or the Orange City Fire Department.
From one firehouse to two stations
Station 39 is the latest chapter in a story DeBary residents started themselves. In October 1952, neighbors met to talk about the lack of fire protection in their community. The DeBary Volunteer Firemen’s Association was formally organized on June 23, 1953, and answered its first call, a brush fire, that October.
- May 1954: The first engine arrives, a 1943 Chevrolet combination pumper-tanker from Leesburg.
- February 13, 1955: DeBary’s first firehouse is dedicated at 10 Colomba Road. It is still the association’s hall today.
- 1974: A new metal firehouse, Station 14, is built beside the original.
- 1984: Fire service moves under Volusia County Fire Services, the station is redesignated Station 33, and the volunteers’ Support Team is born.
- 2009: The City of DeBary contracts with the Orange City Fire Department.
- July 2017: The new Station 33 opens, the third firehouse in DeBary’s history.
- January 2026: Station 39 opens, giving DeBary two stations for the first time.
You can read the full story on our history page.
How the association supported Station 39
New stations need more than a building and an engine. Crews need the everyday supplies and equipment that make a firehouse work. In 2024, the DeBary Volunteer Fire Support Team pledged the proceeds from its pancake breakfasts and its 70th-anniversary challenge coin sales to supplies and equipment for Station 39.
That support came directly from residents: families who came out for pancakes at Florence K. Little Hall, and neighbors and collectors who bought a $20 challenge coin commemorating the association’s 70 years of service. If you were one of them, thank you. You helped equip the crews who now protect southwest DeBary.
The association also supports crews from both stations on long or hot incidents through our Support 33 rehab unit, which brings water, sports drinks, snacks, ice, shade and cooling to firefighters on scene, plus comfort for displaced residents. Learn more about what a support unit does.
How you can help
A new station is a big step, but the safety of your neighborhood still depends on residents. Here is how to make the most of Station 39:
- Make your address easy to find. Use large, contrasting house numbers visible from the street day and night. New subdivisions and look-alike streets slow down even the closest crew.
- Keep hydrants clear. Do not park in front of hydrants or bury them behind landscaping or fences.
- Pull over for emergency vehicles. When you see lights or hear sirens, move to the right and stop until they pass.
- Prevent the call. Test smoke alarms monthly, practice a home escape plan, and keep up with cooking and battery safety.
- Learn CPR. Those first minutes before crews arrive are yours.
- Come to a pancake breakfast. Check our fundraisers page for dates at Florence K. Little Hall.
- Buy a challenge coin. Our 70th-anniversary challenge coin is $20 and supports equipment and supplies for DeBary’s firefighters.
- Join us. Association and support members help raise funds, staff events and serve on rehab calls.
Frequently asked questions
Where is DeBary Fire Station 39?
Station 39 is at 798 Fort Florida Road in southwest DeBary, west of the railroad tracks and near the St. Johns River. It held its ribbon-cutting and community open house on January 9, 2026.
Who staffs Fire Station 39?
Like Station 33, Station 39 is staffed by the Orange City Fire Department through the City of DeBary's fire services contract. The DeBary Volunteer Fire Support Team is a separate volunteer association that supports those firefighters.
Will Station 39 lower my homeowners insurance?
The city has said homeowners may see lower insurance rates, and the station helps maintain DeBary's ISO Public Protection Classification. Your actual premium depends on your insurer and policy, so ask your agent whether your property's rating or distance-to-station information should be updated.
How much faster will firefighters reach my home?
According to the City of DeBary, response times for residents farthest from the existing station are expected to drop from about 11 minutes to about 4 minutes. Actual times vary with call volume, traffic and where crews are when a call comes in.
How can I support the firefighters at Station 39?
Attend a DVFA pancake breakfast, buy a 70th-anniversary challenge coin, or become a member. The association pledged its 2024 pancake breakfast and challenge coin proceeds to supplies and equipment for Station 39.
Sources and further reading
- WKMG News 6: “It’s pretty critical”: New fire station opens in DeBary
- Sanford Herald: City of DeBary opens second fire station to enhance public safety
- Hoodline: DeBary celebrates opening of Fire Station 39
- Verisk: Public Protection Classification (PPC) program FAQ
- Texas Department of Insurance: Public Protection Classification explainer
- American Heart Association: CPR facts and stats
Help us keep DeBary’s firefighters supplied and supported at both stations. Support the DeBary Volunteer Fire Support Team or become a volunteer member. Contributions to the DeBary Volunteer Firemen’s Association, Inc. are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes.
