The City of San Marcos broke ground on its fifth fire station Monday, Oct. 5, marking a major investment in public safety to strengthen the city’s emergency response. The groundbreaking was held alongside a ceremonial check presentation from Assemblymember Dr. Darshana Patel, highlighting $1.2 million in state funding for a new fire engine that will be housed at the new station.
“When an emergency happens, our residents depend on firefighters having the equipment they need to respond quickly and safely,” said Assemblymember Dr. Patel. “I secured this $1.2 million for San Marcos because our firefighters need the right resources to protect the people they serve. This new engine will strengthen emergency response and help keep families, neighborhoods, and business safe when every second matters”
Located at the southeast corner of North Las Posas Road and Armorlite Drive, Fire Station 5 will expand emergency response coverage in the city’s west and northwest areas, helping improve response times and strengthen fire and emergency medical services throughout San Marcos.
“Fire Station 5 will give our firefighters another place to respond from, and help strategically distribute public safety resources across the city for more efficient service, said San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones. “Most importantly, this is an investment in being ready for the future as our Fire Department protects a diverse community of residential neighborhoods, commercial and retail centers, office buildings, industrial parks, and educational institutions.”
The $25 million fire station is made possible by Measure Q, a one-cent local sales tax approved by San Marcos voters in November 2024 to support keeping San Marcos clean, safe and well-maintained.
The new station will be staffed by a fire captain, fire engineer, two firefighter-paramedics and an emergency medical technician. It will house the new fire engine and an ambulance, expanding the department’s capacity to respond to both fire and medical emergencies.
The groundbreaking marks an important step in expanding the city’s public safety infrastructure and ensuring firefighters have the facilities, staffing and equipment needed to serve the community today and into the future. It’s anticipated to open in mid-2028, pending weather and any other unforeseen circumstances.
The San Marcos Fire Department is a Class 1 full-service department serving the City of San Marcos and the San Marcos Fire Protection District, covering 33 square miles and approximately 95,000 residents. The department provides fire suppression, rescue and emergency medical services, fire prevention and vegetation management.
