The city of San Diego has opened a new, temporary fire station in Skyline as it seeks to quickly reach emergencies in one of the city’s most underserved areas.
On Tuesday, San Diego Fire Engine Company 51 moved into its new facility, which includes a double-wide mobile home for the firefighters and a sprung steel structure for the engine, at 7180 Skyline Drive.
The crews will stay in the temporary structures until a permanent station can be built, though SDFD officials say they have no target date for construction until city funds become available.
While $1 million already has been earmarked for architectural and engineering design work on a permanent station, another $12 million will be needed to build the facility.
The Skyline location helps serve the area left uncovered by Fire Station 12 on Imperial Avenue to the west and Fire Station 32 on Briarwood Road to the east, according to Lee Swanson with SDFD.
In 2011, consulting firm Citygate Associates identified 19 neighborhoods – many of them south of Interstate 8 – that were underserved by firefighters. Skyline was part of that list.
“Today’s station opening is a significant improvement in emergency response for the Skyline Hills and surrounding neighborhoods,” Fire Chief Javier Mainar said. “We are grateful to the Mayor and City Council for their support of public safety and making this station possible.”
A ribbon-cutting for the station was held two weeks ago, but more construction had to be completed before crews could move in.
