Palo Alto Breaks Ground on New Fire Station 4 Replacement Project
Published on January 08, 2026
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City of Palo Alto Breaks Ground on New Fire Station 4 Replacement Project
Modern facility will strengthen emergency response and serve the community for generations
PALO ALTO, CA — The City of Palo Alto today celebrated the groundbreaking of the Fire Station 4 Replacement Project, marking a major milestone in the City’s long-term investment in public safety and resilient community infrastructure.
“The new fire station design recognizes and supports the growth that we are planning in this area of town,” said Mayor Vicki Veenker. “Special thanks to Assemblymember Marc Berman for his leadership in securing a state earmark that is enabling the station to be built.”
The new Fire Station 4 is one of ten priority capital projects identified in the 2014 Council Infrastructure Plan and represents a critical upgrade to Palo Alto’s emergency response network. The $18.2 million project will deliver a modern, seismically resilient facility designed to meet the evolving needs of firefighters and the community they serve. The project is funded in part through a hotel tax increase approved by Palo Alto voters, along with a critical $5.2 million state earmark secured by Assemblymember Marc Berman.
“Today’s groundbreaking represents years of thoughtful planning, community engagement, and cross-department collaboration,” said City Manager Ed Shikada. “This project reflects Palo Alto’s commitment to building infrastructure that not only protects our community but strengthens the connection between residents and the public servants who serve them every day.”
The new station will be built on the existing 0.6-acre site and will feature two drive-through apparatus bays, a standby apparatus bay for an ambulance and reserve engine, firefighter living quarters, and space to support emergency operations during major incidents. The design also incorporates an open, inviting plaza and glass elements that create greater visibility and connection with the surrounding neighborhood.
“This station is more than a building,” Palo Alto Fire Chief Stephen Lindsey added. “It’s a commitment to ensuring our firefighters have the facilities they need to protect lives and property—today and in the future.”
During construction, fire crews are operating out of a temporary station at the Cubberley Community Center to ensure uninterrupted emergency services. There are seven fire stations placed throughout the City and Stanford. All are staffed 24/7, with the exception of Fire Station 8 in the Palo Alto Foothills Nature Preserve which is staffed seasonally by PAFD and Santa Clara County Fire personnel.
State Assemblymember Marc Berman, who served on the Palo Alto City Council when it adopted its 2014 Council’s Infrastructure Plan, added “one of the fundamental responsibilities of government is to provide for the health and safety of its residents, but that is difficult to do in outdated or obsolete facilities. The new Fire Station 4, which I was proud to secure $5.2 million in state funding for, strengthens Palo Alto’s emergency response today while building the kind of resilient infrastructure our communities will rely on for decades to come.” Berman was also a member of Palo Alto’s Infrastructure Blue Ribbon Commission whose work led to the adoption of the 2014 Council’s Infrastructure Plan.
The new station has been carefully designed to reflect the character of the surrounding neighborhood, incorporating Eichler-inspired architectural elements shaped through extensive community, commission, and board engagement. Public art will also be integrated into the site, including an illuminated glass panel installation inspired by oak trees in the region’s natural landscape.
Construction is being led by Beals Martin & Associates, with BRW Architects serving as project architect and construction management company, Cumming Group. The project team worked closely with City staff, neighborhood stakeholders, and advisory bodies to ensure the new Fire Station 4 reflects both functional excellence and community values.
The City anticipates completing construction in summer 2027, when the community will gather again to celebrate the grand opening of the new Fire Station 4.
The Palo Alto Fire Department serves an area of approximately 38.7 square miles including 12.8 square miles of Stanford University Campus and responds to over 9,543 calls for service annually.
Learn about this project at www.paloalto.gov/firestation4.
For more about the Palo Alto Fire Department, go to www.paloalto.gov/fire.
Sent By:
Meghan Horrigan-Taylor
Chief Communications Officer
City Manager's Office
Office Phone: (650) 329-2607
Email: Meghan.Horrigan-Taylor@paloalto.gov