An American flag flies atop a pole Feb. 20 during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Fire Station No. 8 in Arlington. The station was completed and operational as of late December 2025.
The City of Arlington opened the new Fire Station No. 8 with major improvements for both the city and its firefighters during a ceremony Friday afternoon.
The ceremony began with the presentation of colors by the Arlington Fire Department Honor Guard and an invocation by Chaplain Brad Powell. Arlington Mayor Jim Ross also gave a speech highlighting the importance of keeping the community safe.
“This new fire station symbolizes our commitment to keeping our community safe,” Ross said. “It symbolizes our commitment to our first responders, because without our first responders, we can do nothing else that really matters.”
From left, Arlington City Council members Mauricio Galante and Long Pham, fire Chief Bret Stidham, and mayor Jim Ross pose for photos in front of a fire truck Feb. 20 during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Fire Station No. 8. The firefighters have vehicles designed for specialized rescue maneuvers.
After the Citizens’ Bond Committee voted to build a new station in 2018, Station No. 8 closed and was demolished in 2024, marking the start of the construction period. On December 22, 2025, Station No. 8 firefighters and personnel returned to the new facility.
Council member Mauricio Galante said during his speech at the ceremony that the mayor and council members are committed to keeping investments in public safety and modernizing first responder facilities.
“We invest with the certainty that buildings like this Fire Station 8 aren’t just structures, they are tools that help our firefighters do what they do best — to save lives,” Galante said. “As your house member, I am proud to support these everyday heroes.”
The community gathers for a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 20 in the new Fire Station No. 8 in Arlington. The new facility cost $13.9 million.
After the ceremony, he said bond election projects may take years to complete and it is the city’s goal to accomplish everything on budget and on time, like with station No. 8. Galante said he hopes to continue this efficiency for future bond projects.
“In order for them to continue doing a great job in servicing our residents, we need to make sure that we keep up with improving technology and also equipping them with what they need to perform their duties,” he said.
Fire Chief Bret Stidham said during the ceremony that the new station features many updates and improvements, such as the addition of new technologies to make firefighters’ jobs faster and better, an extractor to keep protective gear clean and new living spaces.
Firefighters stand and laugh before a dedication ceremony Feb. 20 at Fire Station No. 8 in Arlington. After the former station was demolished in 2024, the firefighters moved back to the new station in December 2025.
“This is a state-of- the-art facility, and it’s built with purpose,” Stidham said.
Stidham said every second counts in firefighting, and this station is built to allow firefighters to get out quicker — featuring new and efficient doors and many fire poles for responders to get downstairs and reach fire engines quickly.
“It’s just a much bigger, more modern facility, and so it’s a better place for our firefighters to live,” he said.
Arlington Mayor Jim Ross speaks to community members Feb. 20 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Fire Station No. 8. The station is now home to Arlington’s Urban Search and Rescue, Technical Rescue and Confined Spaces Rescue teams.
Arlington firefighter Cameron Knight said once the old station was cleared out, he and others were dispersed into three stations that would still allow them to cover the same area. Knight said that with the new equipment and dispatch system, they will get a faster response at the new station than at the old one.
“We felt very lucky and very blessed to be able to get a new station,” he said.
Lt. Courtney White, Arlington Police Department chief of staff, said that the collaboration with the fire and police departments is important to reaching emergency locations faster to ensure safety, especially on the medical side, as firefighters are also paramedics.
Giveaways are placed on a table Feb. 20 during the ribbon-cutting ceremony for Fire Station No. 8 off Madison Drive. The original station was built in 1978 and closed in July 2024.
The event concluded with a bell ceremony and engine push, where attendees were able to push the fire engine as it went into the driveway, highlighting the start of this new chapter in the Fire Department.
Arlington resident Mary Evans said she moved to the area that Fire Station No. 8 serves right before the old station was demolished. Evans said it was an exciting experience to witness the construction process and now to see the station ready for use.
“It’s a big improvement from the old one,” she said. “It’s much larger, and it’s just beautiful.”
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