SAN MARCOS — Fire officials and personnel, City Council members and a state legislator gathered under a scorching late-morning sun Monday to mark the start of construction on the city’s Fire Station 5, a block south of Palomar College.
The local dignitaries huddled under pop-up canopies to escape the 101-degree heat.
The new station is being built on an empty lot on the east side of North Las Posas Road, between Armorlite Drive and Furniture Row. While a city spokesperson said the lot has never been developed, an outdoor tasting room known as The Outpost, operated by San Diego-based Karl Strauss Brewery, occupied the site for just under a year.
The outdoor brewpub closed in August 2024, and the portable bar and outdoor tables have since been removed.
The new station is funded by proceeds from Measure Q, the November 2024 city ballot measure that authorized a 1% sales tax for 10 years. The station’s total cost is estimated at $25 million, according to a city spokesperson, with completion tentatively expected in mid-2028.
“Fire Station 5 will help our firefighters respond faster when emergencies happen, and whenever seconds matter, faster response can make all the difference,” Deputy Mayor Mike Sannella said after the ceremony.
In addition to breaking ground for the new station, the city received a ceremonial check representing $1.2 million in state funding to purchase a new fire truck to be housed there. Assemblymember Darshana Patel, who represents the 76th Assembly District, which includes San Marcos, presented the check.
A new ambulance will also be housed at the station when it opens. The station will be staffed by five-person shifts, including an emergency medical technician and two paramedics.
“Reliable equipment is essential to helping our firefighters respond safely and effectively when residents need them most,” Patel said through her office.
The city’s current fire stations are located at:
- Fire Station 1: 180 W. Mission Road
- Fire Station 2: 1250 S. Rancho Santa Fe Road
- Fire Station 3: 404 Woodland Parkway
- Fire Station 4: 204 San Elijo Road
