San Diego County officials and fire chiefs recently broke ground on a new Fire Station 43 in Jacumba, according to East County Magazine. The planned 7,100-square-foot facility is expected to open in 2027 and replace older infrastructure serving the rural high-desert community.

The station is being developed by San Diego County Fire and Cal Fire as a modern emergency response hub for a remote area along Interstate 8 and Old Highway 80. East County Magazine reported that the facility will include two large truck bays, crew living quarters, a kitchen, dining and day rooms, an office, a lobby and an on-site gym.

County officials framed the project as both a fire-response upgrade and an emergency medical resource for the backcountry. The area faces wind-driven roadside fire risk and long distances between emergency resources, making faster initial response a major part of the project’s public-safety value.

For Santee and the rest of East County, the project is a reminder that local wildfire protection depends on a regional grid, not just city boundaries. Stations in Jacumba, Campo, Boulevard, Pine Valley and other backcountry communities help crews respond earlier when fires start in rural terrain before smoke and road closures affect the wider region.

East County Magazine credited the County of San Diego for photos and reported that the station is being designed to meet Zero Net Energy and LEED Gold standards. The land was donated by SolaREIT in coordination with the Jacumba Valley Ranch Energy Park.