Hannah Elsmore
The San Diego Union-Tribune
(TNS)

The county Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved accepting a six-acre land donation in Borrego Springs where a fire station and health clinic will be built.

A rural, unincorporated community, Borrego Springs often relies on land donations for new development.

The six-acre plot was offered to the county by real estate developer Bill Wright, who previously donated adjacent land where the Borrego Springs library was developed. The site is located on County Club Road parallel to the existing library, Sheriff’s station and park.

The county will use the western four acres to build a fire station and the eastern two acres bordering the library for a health clinic.

Borrego Springs Station 60 is “outdated” and operated out of a former lumberyard, Supervisor Jim Desmond said, adding that a replacement is needed.

The Borrego Springs Fire Protection District was dissolved in 2023 and merged with the San Diego County Fire Protection District in order to broaden fire protection and emergency services to the area.

Despite the benefits of increased staffing, a new ambulance and a newer fire engine, the existing station “was not built to house a fire station or accommodate a modern fire crew,” a county report said, noting a “dire” need for a new fire facility. The site is a preferred location for a new station, the county fire district said.

The unincorporated community also lacks a hospital and other health care facilities, the report said, “forcing residents to drive a long distance for medical care.” The new health clinic will allow residents to address non-emergency medical needs without leaving the community.

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The site will be subject to a state environmental review before development can begin.

“(This) brings the county one step closer to providing better fire response and protection for the Borrego Springs community,” Desmond said.

©2025 The San Diego Union-Tribune. Visit sandiegouniontribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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MADISON WILLIS
Rapid City Journal, S.D.
(TNS)

The Rapid City Fire Department will celebrate the completion and dedication of the newly-expanded Station 1 in downtown Rapid City.

Following a ceremony that begins at 10 a.m., station tours will be available every half hour until 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 14, the department said in a release. The public is also invited to additional station tours on Saturday, Nov. 15 from 9 a.m. to noon.

RCFD Chief Jason Culberson told the Journal in April the ambitious undertaking marks a new era for the downtown firehouse.

“We’re excited to show off this building to the community. It’s something that they should be proud of, and we’re extremely thankful to the community for helping provide this absolutely stunning building,” Culberson said at the time.

The two-year project will more than double the station’s footprint, growing it from 19,000 square feet to 41,000 square feet. The project aimed to add new office spaces, dorm rooms, a workout area and clean zones designed to be free of carcinogens, addressing both the health and operational needs of the department.

RCFD Station 1

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Rapid City Fire Department Chief Jason Culberson poses with the famous Dexter outside Fire Station 1 in Rapid City.

Per the department:

Construction on the Station 1 expansion began in February 2023. The original building, constructed in 1975, has long served as the department’s headquarters but had been in need of expansion for approximately 30 years. The updated facility has grown from 19,000 square feet to 41,000 square feet, providing much-needed space.

One of the most significant outcomes of this project is that the remodel and expansion consolidated all administrative functions into a single facility, improving communication, efficiency, and collaboration within the department.

“This project represents decades of hard work and planning coming to life,,” Fire Chief Jason Culberson said in the release. “Station 1 is more than just a building, it’s a reflection of our commitment to serving Rapid City with pride, professionalism, and preparedness for generations to come.”

© 2025 Rapid City Journal, S.D.. Visit www.rapidcityjournal.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Southern Colorado Wildland Fire officially put into service a brand-new Type 6 fire engine that was donated to the team, the department said in a Facebook post.

“We are beyond words for the incredible generosity and gift given to our team by Mary Barrowman of Teller County, Colorado, and her Prospect Home Care and Hospice Foundation,” the post said. “Not only will this fire apparatus be a game-changer for fire response and training across the SOCO partnership but reflects a belief that our long-term mission and purpose is worthy of such an investment.

“Thank you, Mary, for believing in us and we promise to utilize this new engine to serve the citizens of El Paso and Teller counties, the Pikes Peak region, and beyond, and be a catalyst that brings fire agencies together. Engine 2641, welcome to SOCO and to Wildland Fire!”

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The City of Kent (OH) Fire Department held a push-in ceremony for a new pumper recently, the department said in a Facebook post.

The new engine, a Pierce, has a 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump and a 1,000-gallon water tank.

“Thank you to the community, retirees and current firefighters for coming out and helping with the pushing new Engine 2 ceremony,” the department said. “It is a fire service tradition that stems from the pushing of steam engines back into the firehouse after detaching the horses.”

Specifications

Chassis	Velocity®
Body	Pumper
Actual Overall Height	9′ 9″
Engine	Cummins X12
Horsepower	500 hp
Front Suspension	TAK-4® Independent Front Suspension
Rear Suspension	Spring
Electrical System	Command Zone™
Foam System	Husky™ 3
Pump	Waterous Midship
Pump GPM	1500 gpm
Tank	Foam Water
Tank Size	1000 gallons

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