Fire Stations 32 and 33 for the Fort Myers Beach Fire and Rescue District are currently under construction and nearing completion.

Dan McGahey, principal-in-charge of the project for Gora/McGahey, Associates in Architecture (www.gora-mcgahey.com), says work on Station 33 is on schedule for completion in late July, while Station 32 should be ready for occupancy by the end of September.

Fire Station 33 will expand fire -rotection services on the southern end of Estero Island. The one-story building will house six fire fighters and include three apparatus bays.

Fire Station 32 is replacing the existing fire station on San Carlos Boulevard, on the mainland side of Fort Myers Beach. The three-story, 12,290 square foot building will provide fire protection services to Estero Island, and will serve as a command center for the Beach Fire District during storm events or other emergencies.

The ground floor houses three apparatus bays, bunker gear, decontamination rooms and the main lobby. Living quarters for on-duty staff, including six individual bunk-rooms, a

kitchen, day room, dining room and exercise room are all located on the second floor. The third floor is the office area and training room during normal times. In a storm event, this area will serve as the command post. The reinforced structure is designed to meet up to Category 5 storm winds.

Noel Hernandez is the project manager for both fire stations, Bruce Gora served as design principal and Dan McGahey is the administrative principal. Other Gora/McGahey staff involved with the projects are: Maria Marrufo, production assistant; Ken Buschle, specifications; and Bob Schuerman, contract administrator. Fowler Construction is building both fire stations.