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Victoria fire inspector outlines new station, response goals and community services
Summary
The Victoria Fire Department presented plans for a new fire station, described 2024 call data and staffing changes, and highlighted community services such as free blood‑pressure checks, hands‑only CPR classes and home safety inspections.
Zach Peglo, the community risk reduction specialist and fire inspector for the Victoria Fire Department, told the Senior Advisory Committee the department is building a new station and expanding community outreach.
Peglo said the department responded to 410 calls for service in 2024, roughly 70% of which were medical calls, and described a staffing model that includes three full‑time employees and about 28 paid‑on‑call firefighters. "I'm the community risk reduction specialist/fire inspection…for the Victoria Fire Department," Peglo said as he introduced his presentation.
Why it matters: Peglo said the new station is designed to reduce response times, improve firefighter safety and provide community spaces. The city purchased land from Holy Family High School; CNH Architects completed design work and construction began in June. The department hopes to occupy the new station in June 2026, a schedule Peglo described as "weather and construction dependent." He said the building is being designed to serve the city for decades.
Key details: The new facility will include a public lobby with the department's 1929 motorized fire engine on display, rentable classrooms and conference space, administrative offices and apparatus bays. Peglo emphasized a decontamination area and showers to reduce firefighter exposure to carcinogens, describing a red/yellow/green zoning approach and upgraded HVAC to keep contaminated air out of staff areas. "That whole decon area will allow us to take showers. We don't currently have showers at our fire station today, so it'll be able to allow us to help try and mitigate those problems," he said.
Operations and equipment: Peglo said the city is moving toward a duty‑crew staffing model that keeps three to four people at the station during scheduled shifts, shortening response time from an estimated eight minutes under an all‑call model to about four minutes under duty crews. He said a ladder truck is the only major apparatus currently under future consideration, likely years away.
Community services: Peglo outlined public services the department provides, including free blood‑pressure checks during station hours, hands‑only CPR classes (quarterly), smoke‑detector inspections and replacements, and liquor‑license inspections for commercial properties. He encouraged residents to call the fire department or use contact information on the city's website to schedule home safety visits.
Quoted: "We can come in and check your smoke detectors. We can change the batteries. We can change your smoke detectors out if you get new ones," Peglo said, describing the home‑safety visits and the department's willingness to tailor neighborhood classes such as slips, trips and falls prevention.
What happens next: Peglo offered to return with additional data on calls involving older adults if the committee would find that useful, and he left the meeting early for another appointment. The committee discussed how to publicize the department's services to older residents through the city's outreach channels.
End note: Construction remains on a projected schedule for a mid‑2026 occupancy but remains dependent on weather and contractors; the department will provide follow‑up information as designs and construction progress.
