In 1970, OCFA Station No. 24 opened as a one-engine fire station serving the emerging community of Mission Viejo. At the time, the city’s population was just 12,000, and the original station was well-suited to meet its public safety needs.

But over the next five decades, Mission Viejo changed. The population grew to over 90,000, call volume increased, wildfire threats became more severe, and the broader impacts of natural disasters became more frequent. At the same time, fire station design evolved, placing greater emphasis on firefighter health, operational efficiency, and long-term adaptability. For OCFA, it was time to replace Station 24 with a modern facility designed to support both the community and its fire personnel for decades to come.

Using a design-build delivery method, OCFA partnered with EC Constructors and COAR Design Group to deliver a new 14,500-square-foot, two-story station, rebuilt on the same site as the original. The goal: create a facility that supports today’s operational needs, reflects Mission Viejo’s architectural character, and remains flexible for future demands.

The exterior design takes cues from the city’s Andalusian-inspired aesthetic, with features like pointed arches, exposed brick, and geometric Quartetto tile. Neutral-toned apparatus bay doors help the station blend into the surrounding residential neighborhood while still serving as a visible civic anchor.

Inside, the station balances durability and functionality. The floor plan is organized around hot-zone design principles to limit contamination, while the second-floor bunk rooms provide quiet, separated sleeping quarters. Circulation paths were thoughtfully planned to allow efficient movement from living spaces to the apparatus bays during emergency response.

The new station includes four apparatus bays, capacity for an aerial platform truck, and dedicated areas for turnout gear, hose storage, decontamination, and medical supplies. It also features a kitchen and day room, offices, an exercise space, and a second-floor patio. With twelve bunk rooms and eight restrooms (triple the capacity of the original), Station 24 now meets the operational scale of modern fire service.

Ultimately, this new station reflects both the growth of the Mission Viejo community and OCFA’s commitment to supporting the health, safety, and performance of its personnel.