JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Mayor John Peyton and Jacksonville Fire Rescue leaders cut the ribbon for the new fire station on W.M. Davis Parkway Tuesday morning.

Fire Station No. 59 is a $2.5 million building that firefighters said is a huge relief for the quickly growing San Pablo area.

"The southeast quadrant that we're talking about is indeed a rapidly growing part of Jacksonville and station 59 is exactly what is needed," said JFR spokesman Tom Francis.

Fire Station No. 59 is located not far from the new Mayo Hospital. Residents in the area said the new fire station is a welcome addition.

"This is a great day. It's very nice to have a station like this close by Cypress Village and for this area," said Hiram Barksdale, who lives near the new fire station.

Max Booke, who lives in the Cypress Village retirement community down the road from the new station, said he started pushing for a fire station in the area more than four years ago.

"Before when they had to come, it was several minutes to pick up somebody. Now, the response time is so miniscule because it's right on our doorsteps," said Brooke.

Booke said Cypress Village residents feel much safer in case of an emergency.

"We get a lot of runs over here, and this is going to reduce our response time greatly," said JFR Chief Larry Peterson.

The fire station will initially be assigned one rescue unit and one fire engine along with more than a dozen firefighters.

The station has enough room for six firefighting vehicles.