Monroe County and MCFR Cut Ribbon for Cudjoe Key Fire Station 11

CUDJOE KEY, FL – Monroe County and Monroe County Fire Rescue held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 17 to open the new Cudjoe Key Fire Station 11. The 3,708 square feet building has a 4,299 square feet garage bay and is rated for category five hurricanes with 200 mph wind speeds. The firefighters will be moving from their current location housed at Monroe County Sheriff’s Office Cudjoe Key Substation. The new location has a stainless-steel restaurant-style kitchen and can sleep up to 8 people in the interior bunkrooms.

“This fire station was the last big project on my punch list from when I started at Monroe County Fire Rescue,” said retiring Fire Rescue Chief James “Jim” Callahan at the ceremony. “This is a great space for our firefighters to serve the Lower Keys community and a great improvement to Monroe County’s infrastructure.”

In addition to the ribbon cutting, Station 11 paid special tribute to Herve Thomas, a Monroe County Fire Rescue firefighter/EMT who recently died while on duty. There was a moment of silence and the flags at Monroe County fire stations and government buildings will continue to be at half-staff through his service on Saturday.

Monroe County Mayor Michelle Coldiron, Administrator Roman Gastesi, incoming Fire Chief Steve Hudson, and Project Management Director Cary Knight also spoke at the ceremony.