Buckeye to open new fire stations, police communications building and expand training after bond approval

City officials described a series of public-safety investments funded or enabled by a voter-approved bond and other city resources.

Fire Chief Jake Rhodes said Station 707 in Blue Horizons is now open and the city will open two additional stations funded by the bond: the Victory fire station (land at Acacia and Indian School Road already acquired) and Fire Station 706 in Westpark. “We get to open two more stations, look at public safety training grounds and also public safety administration,” Rhodes said.

Why it matters: Officials said new stations and staffing are intended to improve response times for growing northern and eastern neighborhoods and support mutual aid within the Phoenix metro area.

Rhodes said the city has moved from roughly 100 personnel to 151 with recent hires and that the department expects to add more firefighters as stations come online (officials discussed adding roughly 45–60 new employees across the department). He said the city is selecting architects and advancing site work for the new stations and that a dedicated training facility and expanded administration are in design and will follow funding schedules.

The mayor also highlighted the Police Department Communications Building, which officials said will open this summer, and said Buckeye will oversee the Joe Foss Shooting Range with plans to reopen it in February (the presentation did not specify the calendar year). Officials said the range will be used for law enforcement training and public use.

Ending: City officials said they will provide timelines and public information as design, procurement and construction progress. No council votes were taken during the presentation.