Marion County officials threw the first spadefulls of ground for a new fire station on County Road 484 near State Road 200.

The Fire Chief says it was something that needed to be done because of all the recent and somewhat unexpected growth in the area. The new station in the area was not on the ten year masterplan put together in 2001.

Building the fire station will cost $2.3 million. Chief Stuart McElhaney hopes it will be up and running about a year from now.