By Hannah Elsmore
The San Diego Union-Tribune
SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — A $12.5 million county-backed project is replacing the existing fire station in Jacumba with an upgraded facility that will modernize emergency services in the area.
Located on the border in southeastern San Diego County, the unincorporated desert town is a popular destination for its natural hot springs.
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“The fire station’s presence will contribute to the overall safety and resilience of the area, reinforcing Jacumba’s vision of a community that balances growth with the preservation of its rural, small-town character and natural environment,” a county report said.
The town is home to about 600 full-time residents. Fire Station 43 serves Jacumba residents, nearby rural communities and areas along Old Highway 80 and Interstate 8.
First responders often respond to emergency calls on the freeway; travelers pass the town as they drive east toward Arizona or west toward the city of San Diego.
For years, volunteer and paid firefighters at Jacumba’s Fire Station 43 have operated out of a small metal building that wasn’t designed for a fully-staffed firefighting team. The leased station does not meet operational, health or safety goals, according to a county report.
Positioned in a high fire-hazard zone, the upgrade is part of an overall effort to increase paramedic services across unincorporated communities in the San Diego County Fire Authority service area.
The 7,800 square-foot station will include a double apparatus bay, an office, six individual dormitory rooms, a kitchen, gym and more.
The five-acre site of the new station was donated by the developer of the controversial JVM Energy Park, a massive solar-energy farm in the town. It was part of $4 million the developer spent to gain support for the project and mitigate concerns.
San Diego County entered into a $12.5 million contract with Balfour Beatty to build the new station with construction expected to be completed by 2027. The current station will close when the new facility is completed.
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