Orange County Fire Authority Welcomes New Mission Viejo Station No. 24

On Thursday July 17th, Orange County Fire Authority (OCFA) welcomed community members, members of the COAR team, city staff, and OCFA leaders to the new Mission Viejo Station No. 24 for a momentous ribbon cutting ceremony—complete with a speaker’s podium built to look like an OCFA fire truck.

Over 150 community members gathered to listen to remarks from OCFA staff and community leaders, watch the ceremonial first flag raise, and celebrate the ribbon cutting for the new station. Deputy Chief of Operations TJ McGovern began his remarks by thanking all who helped bring this project to fruition, highlighting past and present OCFA Board members, and Mission Viejo City Staff including: Former Division Chief Rob Capobianco, current Division Chief Cheyne Maule, Logistics Chief Jim Ruane, and Construction and Facilities Manager Julie Samaniego. He continued by thanking Battalion Chief Jason Taylor and the crew of Station No. 24 for welcoming the community into their new home.

Originally built in 1970, the previous station served the Mission Viejo community for the last 50 years. During that time, the population grew from roughly 12,000 to over 90,000 residents. With that growth came increased call volume, a heightened threat of wildfires, and the broader impact of natural disasters across California and the nation. In that same time span, station best practices evolved significantly, placing a greater importance on cancer prevention and bringing fire personnel safety to the forefront. These factors made the station due for an overhaul –particularly in areas related to space, housing, and hot-zone design.

ORIGINAL STATION NO. 24 – PHOTO COURTESY ORANGE COUNTY FIRE AUTHORITY

The new 14,500 sf, two-story station features a four-bay apparatus room, designed to accommodate an aerial platform truck and support upstaffing protocols during major weather events. This facility also features a turnout area, hose storage, a workshop, storage areas, laundry facilities, medical storage, a decontamination room, an exercise room, a patio, a kitchen and day room, offices, as well as twelve bunk rooms and eight restrooms.

The station incorporates best practices for hot-zone design, including decontamination areas, a restroom located off the app bay, and an airlock vestibule between the app bay and station to minimize the spread of contaminants into living areas.

These design features limit opportunities for carcinogenic contaminants found in combustible materials and flame retardants to enter and linger in living spaces. The floor plan was developed with these principles in mind, while also prioritizing efficient travel patterns to enable fire personnel to move quickly from living spaces to the app bays, increasing efficiency in responding to calls.  

Chief McGovern reflected on the deep meaning within the OCFA Mission Statement, which reads ‘we proudly serve the changing needs of communities.’

“Those are not just words that sit on a shelf, our personnel past and present have brought them to life day in and day out,” McGovern said.

This new station will house 2 paramedic units – one truck and one engine company — that will support the goals of decreasing turnaround times, increasing operational excellence, and empowering the crew of Station No. 24 to respond with more speed and efficiency. Altogether, the new station upholds OCFA’s mission to support the evolving needs of the community; by bolstering the fire authority’s ability to respond to the wide range of emergencies in their purview, and by keeping the fire personnel safe in their homes away from home.

OCFA Board Member and Mission Viejo Mayor Bob Reusch spoke next.  Reflecting on the station’s earlier days, the mayor recalled the first groundbreaking this station hosted on May 20, 1970. Back then, it was a 5,600 square foot single-story station that housed a one- engine company with a four-person team.

“At roughly three times the square footage, this beautiful facility is built for the future – and will serve our community for many years to come,” Mayor Reusch said.

With enhancements including the first solar panels for a fire station in Orange County, this station will without a doubt carry OCFA into the future, supporting their lifesaving and community-supporting efforts for decades to come.

“Strengthening our city’s well-being and quality of life, this station will be a pillar to our community -- representing safety, confidence, and a place of refuge,” Mayor Rausch said. “Fire Station 24 will certainly become a symbol of our community pride.”

We are  grateful to have been a part of this milestone event, and to have partnered closely with EC Constructors, OCFA, and the City of Mission Viejo to deliver a fire station that will continue support the amazing work of the Orange County Fire Authority for years to come. This facility stands as a testament to thoughtful design, innovation, and a shared commitment to protecting and serving the community.