Temporary Fire Station 7

At a glance

The City of Carlsbad now has a fully staffed and equipped temporary fire station on the coast.
The project is part of a City Council goal to improve emergency response times and ensure fire and emergency medical services are ready to meet the community’s needs as the city’s demographics and population change. The station came to life thanks to an agreement approved by the City Council on June 21, 2022.
The $194,052 6-year lease with NRG Inc. allowed the city to build a temporary fire station on part of the old Encina power plant site. The agreement could be extended for up to two additional years.
The city reused some of the temporary buildings used while Fire Station 2 in La Costa was rebuilt.

Project details

The temporary Fire Station 7 is situated on a part of the NRG property where a warehouse and administration building were previously located. Two other nearby properties were initially considered but were ruled out for a variety of reasons, including environmental concerns and the additional time it would take to get them ready.

The temporary station features:

Two temporary mobile buildings, one 1,782 square feet and the other 1,404 square feet, that will be used as offices and sleeping quarters for up to seven fire department personnel. (The city already owns the larger mobile building; the other one will be added.)
A temporary structure of 3,200 square feet that will house an ambulance, lifeguard rescue watercraft and other Fire Department apparatus and equipment. The structure previously used for temporary Fire Station 2 was relocated and expanded at the temporary Fire Station 7 site.
Access is through an existing driveway on Carlsbad Boulevard. The temporary station is about 260 feet east of the road, inside the fenced NRG property.

Background

Temporary Fire Station 7 opened in January 2023.

Why it’s important

In May 2021, the Fire Department completed a “Standards of Cover” evaluation, looking at current and future emergency response needs based on Carlsbad’s size, demographics and other factors. The evaluation found that to meet industry standards, the Fire Department needed a seventh fire station, ideally west of I-5 and the railroad tracks, as well as more ambulances and personnel.

The city set a goal to have a temporary station in place by January 2023.

This would also be the city’s first fire station west of Interstate 5 and the railroad tracks, two major transportation corridors that could be impacted in the event of a wide-scale emergency or natural disaster.

The temporary station would remain in place until a permanent station could be built. A permanent station could be built between 2026 and 2028, depending on several factors, including identifying a site and possibly getting voter approval to spend money to build it. Carlsbad has a law that certain projects over $1 million must get voter approval in advance.

Meanwhile, the Fire Department has already taken several steps since the fiscal year began on July 1, 2021, to meet the goal outlined by the City Council:

Purchased two new ambulances that were put into service on Jan. 6, 2022, bringing the total number of city ambulances to five.
Hired nine new paramedic firefighters, three new full-time emergency medical technicians, and some additional part-time EMTs, who came on board in October 2021.
Converted an office in Fire Station 6 to a bedroom to accommodate the increase in personnel. This project was completed in September 2021.
Reconstruction of Fire Station 2 in La Costa was completed in October 2022, with a larger, more efficient station that can better accommodate crews and equipment.

Past actions

April 18, 2023 | City Council
The City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager to approve Change Order No. 3 to the Ace Electric, Inc. construction contract for Temporary Fire Station 7, in an amount not to exceed $10,865.

January 2023 | Temporary Fire Station 7 opens

Dec. 6, 2022 | City Council
The City Council adopted a resolution authorizing an additional appropriation of $200,000 from the Public Facility Fee Fund and authorizing the City Manager to approve change orders to the Ace Electric Inc. construction contract in an amount not to exceed $25,000 for construction of the electrical system for the Temporary Fire Station 7 Project.

Nov. 15, 2022 | City Council
The City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager or designee to execute an electricity use agreement with Kiewit-Shea II, a joint venture, regarding consumption of electricity from the electrical panel and meter at Temporary Fire Station 7.

July 26, 2022 | City Council
The City Council adopted a resolution authorizing the City Manager, or designee, to execute all documents required to purchase, register and transfer title for two modular residential buildings to the City of Carlsbad and approving plans, specifications and contract documents and authorizing the City Clerk to advertise for bids for construction of a temporary garage for the Temporary Fire Station 7 Construction Project.

June 21, 2022 | City Council
License agreement for Temporary Fire Station 7

May 11, 2021 | City Council
FY 2021-22 City Council Goal Work Plan Options for Fire Department

April 27, 2021 | City Council
FY 2021-22 City Council Goals Work Plans

May 19, 2020 | City Council
Report on Fire Department Standards of Coverage, Potential Deployment Improvements

More information

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