As reported by the San Jose Fire Department, a groundbreaking ceremony was held on Thursday, September 26, 2024, for the upcoming Fire Station 32.
The event took place at the corner of Olinder Ct. and Felipe Ave. in San José, California.
It gathered community members, local officials, and prominent figures, including San José Mayor Matt Mahan, Fire Chief Robert Sapien, Jr., District 7 Councilmember Bien Doan, and former Mayor Sam Liccardo.
The new Fire Station 32 is intended to alleviate the strain on neighboring stations and improve response times.
During the ceremony, Mayor Mahan emphasized the station’s anticipated role, noting it could soon become the busiest station in the city once operational.
He stated: “There’s a lot of need for emergency response right here, and this is going to have a huge impact for the community in terms of making people safer, cutting down response times, and relieving our often-overstretched Department.”
The new Fire Station 32 will feature several modern amenities designed to better accommodate the San José Fire Department’s personnel.
According to Mayor Mahan, the station will include separate sleeping quarters and bathrooms for firefighters, which he believes will improve working conditions for both men and women in the department.
In addition, Fire Station 32 will be fully electric as part of the city’s initiative to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030.
This station is expected to be an environmentally responsible addition to the community while enhancing safety measures.
Mayor Mahan said: “A station that will be fully electric as we march towards our goal of being carbon neutral by 2030 and electrify everything on our path there.”
Fire Chief Robert Sapien, Jr. discussed how Fire Station 32 will impact the broader fire service operations within San José.
The station was identified as a critical addition due to the high demand in its service area, which covers 25% of the total call volume for the city’s fire stations.
He noted that the new facility will help balance the load of nearby stations, improving emergency response times across the area.
Chief Sapien explained: “This station that we’re at today was identified as the most critical need in terms of call demand. […] Putting a station right here is going to give much-needed relief to those other five stations but also improve response times in the immediate area.”
The construction of Fire Station 32 is scheduled to be completed by the spring of 2026.
The project will be closely monitored by city officials to ensure that it stays on schedule.
Public Works Director Matt Loesch and other municipal leaders will oversee the project to ensure that it meets the city’s needs in terms of both safety and sustainability.
The new fire station is part of a broader effort by San José to modernize and expand its public safety infrastructure in response to population growth and increased demand for emergency services.
When completed, it will serve as a critical asset to the community.
San José held a groundbreaking ceremony on September 26, 2024, for the new Fire Station 32.
As announced by the San Jose Fire Department, this station will address the high demand for emergency services in the area and is expected to become the busiest in the city.
The facility will feature separate sleeping quarters for firefighters, be fully electric, and support the city’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2030.
With construction slated for completion by spring 2026, Fire Station 32 will help relieve nearby stations that handle a significant portion of the city’s call volume and improve response times.
