Also serving the communities of De Luz, Rainbow, Camp Pendleton, Pala and Pauma

Pala celebrates new fire station

PALA — On Saturday, July 26, the Pala Band of Mission Indians held a grand opening ceremony for the new $9 million, 45,000-square-foot Pala Fire Station.

The state-of-the-art facility will house personnel and equipment, function as an emergency operations center and provide a training center for regional firefighters.

“We have had this as a goal for many years, and after two years of construction I am proud to announce the grand opening of Pala’s new fire station and training academy,” said Pala Tribal Chairman Robert Smith, who formerly served as Pala Fire Chief.

“Having a mutually beneficial relationship with the community has always been a priority,” Smith added. “This project could not have been completed at a better time; with the fires that have occurred in Southern California and throughout the state recently, the Pala Fire Department will serve the region more efficiently.”

Visitors were able to tour the training facility that features a four-story tower with two burn rooms (so that personnel can practice live fires) and view the emergency operations center that can accommodate 50 personnel from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, CalTrans, San Diego County Sheriff’s Department and other agencies that may have the need to direct regional activity during an emergency.

The station is currently staffed by 30 full-time firefighters and 15 reserve personnel. The Pala Fire Department covers an area of 20.5 square miles, consisting of 13,315 acres and a population of 650 people.

Pala Fire Department has established mutual and automatic aid agreements with surrounding fire departments, including California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, North County Fire, Rincon Reservation Fire Department, Pechanga Fire Department and Valley Center Fire Protection District.

The station is located at 34884 Lilac Extension Road.

 

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