Encinitas cuts ribbon on new temporary Fire Station 1

The Encinitas mayor and fire chief cut the ribbon on a new temporary Fire Station 1 at the Pacific View Arts Center property on West F Street, replacing the original Station 1 built in 1957 and closed in 2024 due to seismic structural deficiencies.

Encinitas Mayor Bruce Ehlers credited the “leadership and diligence to get this done.”

“This temporary station ensures that while we continue to evaluate the long-term solution for Fire Station 1, our community remains protected without interruption,” Ehlers said. “Today is not the end of the process, but it is a meaningful, reassuring step forward.”

It is the city’s only fire station west of the train tracks, blocks away from the stretch of North Coast Highway 101 that runs through shops, restaurants and other attractions in the city’s busy downtown area. The design and construction of the temporary station cost $2.1 million, according to a city news release.

City officials also gathered in front of the Type 1 fire engine that will be housed at the new station for a ceremonial push in, physically pushing the engine backwards into the new station.

“This wasn’t just about a building,” Encinitas Deputy Mayor Jim O’Hara said. “It was about response time, it was about community health, public safety, firefighter safety, and maintaining a reliable service in one of the most active areas of Encinitas.”

City officials emphasized that they will continue to develop a plan for a new permanent station.

“The city remains committed to identifying the best long-term path forward for Fire Station 1,” Fire Chief Josh Gordon said. “Community involvement will continue to be the central part of that conversation.”