Congresswoman Luz Rivas secured $850,000 in federal funding for LAFD Station 31, a fire station in Sylmar that has been in planning since 2006. The project is estimated to cost $20.5 million and is expected to be completed in 3 to 4 years.
*A fire station in Sylmar that has been in planning since 2006 finally received federal funding toward construction.*
Congresswoman Luz Rivas secured $850,000 in federal funds for the purchase of building materials for LAFD Station 31, which is planned to be the second fire station in Sylmar. This funding comes on top of approximately $4 million in design funds secured by LA City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez.
The total construction budget for the station is estimated to be $20.5 million. Station 31 is planned to be constructed at 16300 Foothill Boulevard, near Filbert Street. The project is currently in the planning and design phase. There is no firm projected timeline for completion, but it is estimated to be realized in 3 to 4 years.
For six decades, Los Angeles Fire Department Station 91 has been the only station located in Sylmar, a neighborhood approximately 12 square miles and home to more than 80,000 residents, and continues to grow. Located at the corner of Sylmar Park, the station is equipped with a single fire engine, paramedic ambulance, emergency medical tech ambulance and a truck, and has to cover one of the largest areas in the San Fernando Valley.
Sylmar is surrounded by hillsides and bordered by the San Gabriel Mountains. The neighborhood has steep terrains that include Lopez and Kagel canyons. It is a high-risk area for fires.
For years, residents and community members have been calling for a second station, especially as the neighborhood is no stranger to large fires. The Hurst Fire broke out on West Yarnell Street behind Olive View Medical Center. The fire burned nearly 800 acres and forced 3,000 evacuations.
Plans to build a second station have been in the works for decades. A groundbreaking event was held in November 2006, but the prior owner of the land, a residential developer, failed to honor commitments to build the station as part of the obligation to complete 500 dwelling units. Only about a third of the units were built before various land-use entitlements had expired.
On May 8, during National Wildfire Awareness Month, Rivas presented a ceremonial check to the LAFD at Station 91. Rivas spoke of the impact on Sylmar having to make do with just one LAFD station for 60 years, while cities in LA of similar size and population have several.
Currently, response times are between approximately eight and nine minutes, Rivas said. LAFD Station 31 will reduce response times by over half to three to four minutes. When you consider that families often have only minutes to evacuate, as we have seen in the major fires that have affected Sylmar, that time saved is huge.
LAFD Deputy Fire Chief Luis Aldana added that the new station will not only better serve the residents of Sylmar, but also the communities throughout the valley by helping reduce the overall call volume that the department faces day in and day out.
Kurt Cabrera-Miller, president of the Sylmar Neighborhood Council, described how this project has been a long time coming for the community. He recounted that around four years ago, during an event for National Fire Service Day, he invited several officials to Sylmar, including Mayor Karen Bass, State Sen. Caroline Menjivar, Rodriguez and Rivas.
Cabrera-Miller said during an event at El Cariso Community Regional Park, a board member on the Sylmar Neighborhood Council suffered a heart attack. It took first responders around nine minutes to arrive.
I’m looking forward to when we open the doors of the new fire station, Cabrera-Miller said. Anything that will help reduce call times to get out here is going to be a win. Sylmar has the 5, 14 and the 405 interstates nearby, as well as the train tracks that go through the area. Anything that will assist on those kinds of calls is going to make a big difference.
Theresa Ghezzi, a resident of the Oakridge Mobile Home Park, recalled how she was evacuated from her home during the Hurst Fire. She is glad to know that a second LAFD station is making progress. Ghezzi said she is very relieved that it will happen because first responders can be out on a medical emergency.
The story was covered in the San Fernando Valley Sun.
This article was generated with AI assistance.