By TR Robertson
Originally opened in 1961 at 1070 Old Taylor Street, Vista Fire Station 3 was demolished in 2024 to make way for a new, modern fire station now located at 1962 E. Vista Way. On Monday, city, county, state, and federal government officials, fire representatives from around the county, education and organization representatives, fire department family members, and guests gathered to take part in the Grand Opening and Uncoupling Ceremony for Vista Fire Station 3. An Uncoupling Ceremony is the traditional symbolic event that marks the opening of a new fire station, rather than a Red Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. Two fire hose sections are uncoupled to signify that the station is “in service” and ready to serve the community.
Station 3 Deputy Fire Chief Robert Ford presided over the event. He began by pointing out the various dignitaries in attendance. These included Jessica Ramirez from Congressman Mike Levin’s Office, Fernando Hernandez from State Senator Catherine Blakespeares Office, Graydon McDermott from Assemblymember Laurie Davies Office, District 77 Assemblymember Tasha Boerner, District 5 County Supervisor Jim Desmond, Vista Mayor John Franklin, Vista City Councilmembers Deputy Mayor Dan O’Donnell-Corinna Contreras-Katie Melendez-Jeff Fox, Vista Fire District President John Ploetz and District Board Members, Vista City Manager John Conley, Vista Assistant City Manager Imelda Huerta, Vista Fire Chief Gerard Washington, Vista Fire Department Union President Mike Saldana, Vista Chamber of Commerce CEO Rachel Beld, Vista Unified School District Superintendent Dr. Matt Doyle and various Fire Department Chiefs and Department members as well as members of the Vista Sheriff’s Department.
A Fire Department Honor Guard presented the colors for the Pledge of Allegiance, and North Coast Church Pastor and Fire Department Chaplain Connor McFadden gave a blessing. Deputy Chief Ford spoke about the growth of Fire Station 3 from a 1961 station of 3,000 square feet to the current new facility of over 8,000 square feet. He said the 24-year history of the fire station includes some 270,000 fire calls. Deputy Chief Ford said the station’s address, 1962 E. Vista Way, is in tribute to Vista Fire Inspector Mike McFadden, who served the community for decades. Mike received a heart transplant in 2011 and is the only firefighter to have ever received a heart transplant and return to work. He served as a mentor to high school students, paid a lot of their tuition, and raised funds for scholarships. He passed away in 2022. In his honor, the 1962 address is in tribute to Mike’s birth year. Ford pointed out some of the station’s new features, including high-speed doors for fire and paramedic vehicles, individual forms for fire personnel, training stations in and around the firehouse, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a weight room, and a relaxation room. He said all of this would provide for and assist each team of 5 firefighters on duty 24/7. Ford specifically shouted out Erickson-Hall Construction Company and PDK Architects for staying on time, great cooperation, and the creation of a quality fire station. He went through the details of some of the construction and thanked the VUSD and Dr. Doyle for assisting in providing a nearby building that served as a temporary home for the fire personnel while the new station was under construction. Deputy Chief Ford also thanked the Fire Chiefs and personnel from a variety of agencies that had shown up to witness the opening of the Fire Station.
Following this was a series of plaques, proclamations, documents, and comment presentations for the opening of the new station from Tasha Boerner, Mike Levin, Catherine Blakespeare, Laurie Davies, Jim Desmond, John Franklin, Corinna Contreres, Katie Melendez, Jeff Fox, and John Ploetz. Each speaker spoke about the strong collaboration between the city and the state on funding, permitting, and the construction timeline. Many references to the increased morale, continued support for all agencies dealing with public safety, and continued funding of the Fire and Sheriff’s Departments. Nathan Complin, from Erickson-Hall Construction, also spoke about the tremendous cooperation they had received from all parties involved in the collaboration, funding, and assistance in building Vista Fire Station 3. He also thanked the Iglesia de Cristo Nuevo Dia Church for their assistance and cooperation in the building process. The final speaker was Fire Chief Gerard Washington, who gave an emotional speech on the importance of these firefighters who put their lives on the line every time they respond to a call. He asked everyone in the audience to be ambassadors for continuing their investment in public service agencies, and he finished by asking everyone to always keep the firefighters in their prayers and thoughts.
Deputy Chief Ford then asked everyone to adjourn to the front of Fire Station 3 to witness the Nose Uncoupling Ceremony officially opening Vista Fire Station 3. The Uncoupling Ceremony involves those chosen to hold sections of a hose and performing two uncoupling’s to symbolically open the station as being “in service”. After this all were invited to tour some of the rooms of the Fire Station and to enjoy food from Panera.
The ceremony complete, the firefighters began to move the fire engines back in place and get ready for another day on the job.
