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Council approves Sylmar property acquisition for future fire station and calls for broader fire-station investments
Summary
The City Council approved an item to acquire property for a future Sylmar fire station and several councilmembers said the city must invest in aging fire stations, including exploring a 2026 ballot measure to fund repairs and new builds.
The Los Angeles City Council on March 25 approved an action to acquire property intended to house a future Sylmar fire station and discussed broader plans to shore up aging fire department infrastructure across the city.
Councilmember Rodríguez, who presented the item, said Sylmar is in a high wildfire‑risk area and has long been underserved by fire-department resources. Rodríguez thanked colleagues and city staff, including Fire Department leadership, and described the property acquisition as fulfillment of a decades-old promise to the community.
“We need a 21st‑century fire department that can address 21st‑century problems,” Rodríguez said, noting decades of growth in several neighborhoods without a commensurate addition of fire stations. She urged investment to repair or replace stations and said the city should consider a ballot measure in 2026 to fund station repairs and construction.
Councilmember Park and other members expressed support for the Sylmar acquisition and for broader infrastructure work. One councilmember noted specific needs in District 1 — including station 11 — and called for those stations to be prioritized.
The council adopted the item as amended; the roll-call tally recorded at the meeting was 15 yes, 6 no. City staff said the acquisition moves the property into the department’s planning process; detailed budgets, timelines and project schedules were not provided on the floor.
During debate, speakers referenced coverage‑standard analyses and the Fire Department’s response‑time requirements. Councilmembers said the acquisition is one element of a larger agenda to close service gaps across Los Angeles.
The council’s action authorizes staff to complete the acquisition and proceed with steps toward establishing a station at the site. The item directs further coordination with the Fire Department on standards of coverage and on long‑range planning; it did not specify a construction start date or the total project cost in the public remarks.
