Fresno Fire breaks ground on new northwest fire station

FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The Fresno Fire Department broke ground on a new fire station. 

Fire Station 12, located off North Marks Avenue and built in 1977, was intended as a temporary solution that was supposed to last only a few years.

“It was designed as a house, actually, and then they just built a larger, taller garage onto it,” said Fresno Fire Battalion Chief Kirk Wanless.

Nearly 50 years later, the permanent Fire Station 12 is becoming a reality. The new location off West Ashlan is currently just a plot of dirt. But come July of 2026, the new site will be transformed into a more than 15,800 sqft fire station, equipped to better serve both the community and its firefighters.

The old station was far too small for the firefighters and the equipment they used.

“It’s definitely cramped. Yeah, personal space comes at a premium,” said Fire Captain Rhett Pratt.

Ultimately, Chief Billy Alcorn says the delay came down to funding.

“With the full support from my city council colleagues, we’ve committed $14.3 million to this project,” Fresno City Councilmember Annalisa Perea announced. 

The remaining $3.7 million will be covered through bonds. Alcorn says it’s an investment that’s well worth it.

“Quicker access to the freeway, and it’s truly just in a better location to respond to this area of town,” he said.

But also, just a better work-life balance for the firefighters who have to call this station home.

We spend a third of our life, or sometimes more, at the station,” Capt. Pratt said.

Pratt took YourCentralValley.com through the current station, which has its setbacks. For example, the closet has been turned into a place to store medical equipment.

“We’ve kind of made the best that we could out of it, but could be better,” Pratt shared.

Their current engine bay can comfortably hold only one engine. The new station, however, will have plenty of room. There are plans to add a truck company, which is a squad of four. And an additional engine, which requires two people. So, it’ll go from five firefighters to about 11 working at one time.

And Chief Alcorn says the new station will respond to about 3% to 5 % more calls per year. So that’s better coverage for the people they serve.