City approves plans and bidding for Fire Station No. 2 to speed response on west side
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Summary
Council approved bid documents and plans for a new Fire Station No. 2 at 1730 West Main Street, a roughly 5,000‑square‑foot metal building with dorms and a truck bay. Staff said staffing and response times will improve and could lower homeowner insurance costs through ISO rating benefits.
The Rio Grande City Commission approved bid documents and plans for Fire Station No. 2 on the city—s west side, clearing the project to proceed to procurement.
Escobar Rivas of the Fire Department introduced the proposal and Emiliano Amaro of Drafttec Designs presented a layout for a building of roughly 5,000 square feet that would include four dorms, an office, reception area, recreation/kitchen space and a truck bay. Rivas said the department budgeted for three additional firefighters and described the site as a substation to shorten response times to some areas from 10–15 minutes to approximately five minutes.
Commissioners also discussed potential ISO rating improvements and reduced homeowner insurance premiums if the substation leads to faster emergency response. The council voted to approve the bid documents and move the project forward to public bidding; a commissioner noted the goal of having the station operational in 2026 if procurement and construction timelines allow.
"Every minute counts for us," Escobar Rivas said, emphasizing the operational benefit of the substation. Design and bidding will proceed under standard procurement rules; staff will return with procurement results and any recommended contract award.
