Design for Community: Santa Rosa Fire Station No. 5
On November 15, 2025, the Santa Rosa Fire Department officially reopened Fire Station No. 5, marking a powerful milestone in the city’s long road to recovery after the 2017 Tubbs Fire. The original station, barely a year old at the time, burned down the very night the fire swept through Santa Rosa neighborhoods, leaving firefighters without a home and a community without a symbol of safety.
Krt Maness, COAR Design Group Project Manager, remembers the night vividly: “We got the news around 1:00 or 2:00 in the morning that Santa Rosa was on fire.”
The Tubbs Fire burned for 23 consecutive days, covering 36,810 acres, destroying 5,600 structures, and tragically claiming 22 lives. At the time, the Tubbs Fire was the most destructive wildfire in California history. While firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the fire, they lost their own station, the place they relied on for safety and rest. Steve McCulloch, Wright Contracting Project Manager, reflected, “I can’t imagine going through everything they did with the Tubbs Fire, and then realizing they didn’t have their safe place anymore.”
Rebuilding Station No. 5 was deeply personal for everyone involved. Many of the teams who came together to bring this station to life were local to Santa Rosa and had experienced the fire’s devastation firsthand; some had lost their own homes, while others had watched neighbors and friends lose theirs. For these teams, this project was more than designing and building a new station; it was about restoring a sense of safety and hope for the community they lived in and cared about.
Jeff Katz, COAR Design Group President, said when reflecting on this project, “This project was in COAR’s backyard. And in Wright’s backyard. It mattered to the people building it.” Luke Wilson, ZFA Principal, added, “The [Fire Department] lost their home too. Getting it back was a big motivation for me.”
COAR Design Group partnered with Wright Contracting through a design-build delivery method, allowing both teams to collaborate from day one. Christie Jewett, COAR Design Group Principal, shared, “I was really hoping it was ours to lose. We made bold decisions and tried to create the best project we possibly could for the community.”
Designing for resilience guided every choice, and as explained by Jeff Katz, “One of the City’s goals was to create a structure that felt substantial.” Luke Wilson added, “The fire department was very clear once we got into this project about having a more resilient fire structure. That's why it's a stucco building. It's why all of the eaves are closed. There's some detailing that's more likely to survive.”
When the station officially opened its doors and fire personnel began moving into their new home, the emotional impact was felt immediately. Colton Davis, Wright Contracting Superintendent, said, “Seeing everyone walk through and light up, it felt really good.” Steve Rahmn, Firebrand President & local community leader, also shared, “It’s close to closure. It’s starting to feel like you don’t have to keep talking about the fires.”
Today, Station No. 5 stands as a symbol of strength, resilience, and the power of community overcoming a difficult chapter. Jeff Katz said, “Hearing the joy and appreciation in their voices has been really rewarding.” More than just a fire station was rebuilt; a sense of home and hope was restored for both the fire personnel who serve Santa Rosa and the community that stands with them.
Want to learn more about this project? Check out the Project Page and Grand Opening Blog for event highlights, photos, and unique details about the station.