Ventura breaks ground on first new fire station since 1988
The city and Ventura Fire broke ground Oct. 9 on Interim Fire Station 7 at 2269 Alessandro Drive, which will house Medic Engine 7 and serve Pierpont, Ventura Keys, and the Harbor — neighborhoods with some of the city's longest fire response times.
The City of Ventura and Ventura Fire Department broke ground Oct. 9 on Interim Fire Station 7, marking the first new fire station construction since 1988 and a significant investment in public safety for coastal neighborhoods with the city's longest response times.
The project. Located at 2269 Alessandro Drive, the new station will provide an additional operational presence for the Pierpont neighborhood, Ventura Keys, Ventura Harbor and surrounding areas, according to the city's news release. Once complete, Medic Engine 7 will be permanently stationed at the facility.
Why now. The need for additional fire service capacity has been identified through decades of planning. Ventura's most recent new fire station, Station 6, was built in 1988. At that time, the Fire Department responded to approximately 5,000 calls for service annually. Today, the department responds to nearly 19,000 calls each year, almost four times the volume from 1988.
Response times. Multiple planning efforts, including the City's Fire Facilities Master Plan, Five-Year Fire Strategic Plan, and an Emergency Services Consulting International study, have identified the Pierpont and Harbor communities as priorities for improved emergency response. These neighborhoods have consistently experienced some of the city's longest average fire response times due to travel distance from existing stations.
The site. In 2023, the City Council approved Interim Fire Station 7 as a priority Capital Improvement Program project. The 2.92-acre city-owned property at Alessandro Drive was selected in part because of its proximity to the coastline and its potential to reduce response times for nearby communities. The site previously housed a water infrastructure facility, which was demolished in 2024 to prepare for construction.
The facility. The interim facility will include a 5,800-square-foot apparatus bay, approximately 2,880 square feet of living quarters, and a multipurpose room, along with the infrastructure needed to support emergency operations.
The investment. The project represents an investment of more than $12 million in public safety infrastructure, including $7 million in Measure O funding. The construction contract was awarded for approximately $6.5 million, with additional project costs covering design, site preparation, and other related expenses.
Long-term planning. Designed as a modular facility, Interim Fire Station 7 will address the city's immediate need for additional emergency response capacity while long-term planning continues for a permanent Fire Station 7.
City reaction. 'Today represents years of planning and investment in the future of public safety in Ventura,' said Mayor Dr. Jeannette Sánchez-Palacios. 'This station will strengthen Ventura's ability to protect the people and places we call home, and I'm proud to see this important project come to life.'
Fire Chief Kris McDonald. 'Interim Fire Station 7 is an important investment in our ability to serve this community effectively,' said Fire Chief Kris McDonald. 'In the nearly 40 years since our last fire station was built, Ventura has grown and changed immensely. This new station will improve our operational capacity across the city while placing firefighters and emergency equipment closer to communities that have consistently needed improved response times.'
Construction is now underway, with completion anticipated in fall 2027.
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