Two New Fire Stations Open in San Diego

July 24 -- Two new fire stations, one in Point Loma and another in Little Italy, are part of a San Diego campaign to build new stations and significantly upgrade older facilities.

Since 2014, the city has opened two brand new stations, remodeled six others and is replacing one more with a new, larger structure.

“We’re building our better future when we make major investments to improve our public safety infrastructure,” Mayor Kevin Faulconer said during Tuesday’s unveiling of the remodeled Point Loma station.

Originally built in 1942, Fire Station No. 22 is on Catalina Boulevard at the western edge of Point Loma Community Park. The 6,180-square-foot facility has two vehicle bays and a redesigned driveway to reduce traffic disruptions on Catalina.

“This new fire station has been a long time coming,” said Councilwoman Lorie Zapf of Bay Ho, whose district includes Point Loma. “I know this new station will help improve emergency response times and protect our residents.”

Earlier this month, the city unveiled a brand new station on the western edge of Little Italy.

“We’ll now have three fire stations serving a thriving downtown community that has seen an influx of residents, businesses and visitors over the past few decades,” Faulconer said at the grand opening for that station, which is on Pacific Highway across from Waterfront Park.

The Fire-Rescue Department has long considered a station on the western waterfront a top priority because of emergency response delays resulting from rail activity.

“Bayside Fire Station will provide critical public safety resources and personnel to downtown,” said Councilman Chris Ward of University Heights, whose district includes Little Italy.

The second brand new station the city has built recently is in eastern Mission Valley. A new station was also built in City Heights to replace an older version.

The other remodeled stations are in Mira Mesa, North Park, Southcrest and La Jolla, and a new station under construction in Hillcrest will replace a much smaller version.

In other Fire-Rescue Department news, the City Council confirmed Colin Stowell as the department’s new chief on Monday.

A native San Diegan, Stowell began his firefighting career with the city in 1988 and rose through the ranks to assistant chief before leaving in 2016 to lead Heartland Fire & Rescue in El Cajon, La Mesa and Lemon Grove.

___ (c)2018 The San Diego Union-Tribune Visit The San Diego Union-Tribune at www.sandiegouniontribune.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.