City breaks ground on Fire Station 5, receives state funding

Published on October 05, 2026

San Marcos breaks ground on fifth Fire Station as city receives $1.2 million in state funding for new fire engine to strengthen emergency response and expand public safety resources for the community

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.

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.

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.

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.