San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer on Monday celebrated the grand opening of the fourth fire station to open in the city this year.
City Councilman Chris Ward, Assemblyman Todd Gloria, Fire-Rescue Chief Colin Stowell and other community leaders joined the mayor at the station in Hillcrest, which replaces one built in 1951. The station is the ninth overall to be built or renovated since Faulconer took office in 2014.
"Fire Station 5 will provide Hillcrest and the greater Uptown community with much needed and deserved public safety resources and personnel," Ward said. "With the addition of this state-of-the-art facility, residents will have access to excellent neighborhood services that will ensure the quality of life of the community as it continues to grow."
The 10,731-square-foot, two-story station has an exercise room, a locker room to keep equipment away from dormitories and two washing machines for equipment exposed to carcinogens.
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The San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation presented a $3,000 check from Tacos Libertad during the ceremony in support of the new station. The restaurant raised the funds in March to donate to the foundation.
"We appreciate the support from Mayor Faulconer and our council in providing Hillcrest's new station," Stowell said. "Engine 5's crew handled more than 2,500 calls for service in 2017 and between January and July 2018, have responded to more than 1,600 calls. The crews here are very pleased that the station is larger and fits with current standards of functionality and safety."
