The Northwest Consolidated Fire District isn't sitting idly by with projected growth on the horizeon.
As Panasonic is planning an EV battery plant in De Soto, fire officials are ramping up services for new residents as well as incidents at the facility.
Deputy Fire Chief Mike Baxter told Fox4 reporters they’re adding six new positions and building a fre station near the plant. Right now, there are 35 firefighters.
Baxter said the new fire station on about 10 acres, just outside the land Panasonic is currently developing.
The county pitched in $9 million, and Panasonic provided $7.5 million to build the new station and a developer donated the land.
Also, Panasonic has pitched in $1.8 million to buy an aerial rig which will benefit area residents as well as the facility.
“We have been ramping up our training on EV or lithium battery fires. I will say Panasonic has a great plan in place for safety measures. So, the reality is, is we should not have an intervention within Panasonic unless there is a major catastrophic failure.
