The Cal Fire station on Soquel-Old San Jose Road, which has been out of service for several years, is expected to be completed by September, according to Cal Fire, but some residents remain concerned about the delays and increased fire danger in the coming months.”We’re just waiting, this is two years overdue,” a Soquel resident, Martha Rolley, said, expressing frustration over the prolonged closure. Having lived in the area for decades, the resident emphasized the urgency of reopening the station, especially with the heightened fire risk during summer. “We all know around here what summer is like and how dangerous it can be, and it doesn’t take very long as we’ve seen. Do we want something like Southern California experienced where it just goes rapid?” Rolley added.The fire station has faced multiple challenges over the last five years. “It started in 2021, so we were coming out of COVID. There were COVID challenges then that caused supply chain and demand challenges, and you have to have certain things to move forward on your schedule, and then we did have a challenge…a connection with PG&E,” Cal Fire Unit Chief Jed Wilson explained.Wilson added, “We had a singular pole that had multiple utilities on it that helped feed other things to our community members and neighbors, so we had to work together to finish that up.”In addition to these issues, there were complications with contractors and obtaining a permit for the building. However, Cal Fire has stated that everything has been resolved, allowing them to proceed with the project. Despite this, residents have yet to see any visible progress. “There has to be some accountability to the public for the promises made,” Rolley said.Cal Fire noted that the only potential delay in the timeline could be due to weather conditions.

SOQUEL, Calif. —

The Cal Fire station on Soquel-Old San Jose Road, which has been out of service for several years, is expected to be completed by September, according to Cal Fire, but some residents remain concerned about the delays and increased fire danger in the coming months.

“We’re just waiting, this is two years overdue,” a Soquel resident, Martha Rolley, said, expressing frustration over the prolonged closure.

Having lived in the area for decades, the resident emphasized the urgency of reopening the station, especially with the heightened fire risk during summer.

“We all know around here what summer is like and how dangerous it can be, and it doesn’t take very long as we’ve seen. Do we want something like Southern California experienced where it just goes rapid?” Rolley added.

The fire station has faced multiple challenges over the last five years.

“It started in 2021, so we were coming out of COVID. There were COVID challenges then that caused supply chain and demand challenges, and you have to have certain things to move forward on your schedule, and then we did have a challenge…a connection with PG&E,” Cal Fire Unit Chief Jed Wilson explained.

Wilson added, “We had a singular pole that had multiple utilities on it that helped feed other things to our community members and neighbors, so we had to work together to finish that up.”

In addition to these issues, there were complications with contractors and obtaining a permit for the building.

However, Cal Fire has stated that everything has been resolved, allowing them to proceed with the project. Despite this, residents have yet to see any visible progress.

“There has to be some accountability to the public for the promises made,” Rolley said.

Cal Fire noted that the only potential delay in the timeline could be due to weather conditions.