Victorville plans to reopen a fire station in the southwestern part of the city, a move that officials believe will improve response time for emergencies in the area.
The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved the hiring of six firefighter-paramedics who will staff Victorville Fire Department’s Station 315 on Eucalyptus Street near Sunset Ridge Park.
When the station opens later this year, it will mark the first time the facility has been used on a full-time basis since its construction in 2009.
That year, the city contracted its fire services to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. Victorville later returned to running its own department in 2019.
"Fire Station 315 was not previously open or operational due to monetary issues caused in large part by the Great Recession," city spokesperson Sue Jones said in an email Thursday.
According to City Manager Keith Metzler, the closest fire engine currently takes more than five minutes to respond to calls in 315’s coverage area.