County approves land donation for fire station in Borrego Springs

The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved accepting a six-acre land donation in Borrego Springs where a fire station and health clinic will be built.

A rural, unincorporated community, Borrego Springs often relies on land donations for new development.

The six-acre plot was offered to the county by real estate developer Bill Wright, who previously donated adjacent land where the Borrego Springs library was developed. The site is located on County Club Road parallel to the existing library, Sheriff’s station and park.

The county will use the western four acres to build a fire station and the eastern two acres bordering the library for a health clinic.

Borrego Springs Station 60 is “outdated” and operated out of a former lumberyard, Supervisor Jim Desmond said, adding that a replacement is needed.

The Borrego Springs Fire Protection District was dissolved in 2023 and merged with the San Diego County Fire Protection District in order to broaden fire protection and emergency services to the area.

Despite the benefits of increased staffing, a new ambulance and a newer fire engine, the existing station “was not built to house a fire station or accommodate a modern fire crew,” a county report said, noting a “dire” need for a new fire facility. The site is a preferred location for a new station, the county fire district said.

The unincorporated community also lacks a hospital and other health care facilities, the report said, “forcing residents to drive a long distance for medical care.” The new health clinic will allow residents to address non-emergency medical needs without leaving the community.

The site will be subject to a state environmental review before development can begin.

“(This) brings the county one step closer to providing better fire response and protection for the Borrego Springs community,” Desmond said.