DESERT CENTER – The community of Desert Center now has a new state-of-the-art fire station to provide fire service between the Coachella Valley and Blythe and assist along the 10 Freeway.

The new Lake Tamarisk Fire Station 49 replaces a fire station that has served the community since 1970. Fire personnel transitioned into the station this week, marking an important milestone for the CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department with an upgraded environment to better support daily operations and service to the community.

A grand opening celebration is planned at 10 a.m. Monday, May 18. The station is located at 43700 Tamarisk Drive, Desert Center, CA  92239. The community is invited to attend and celebrate Lake Tamarisk Fire Station 49.

“In 2017, as a brand new County Supervisor, one of the first trips I made to our eastern Riverside County communities was to visit the fire stations. Station 49 was one that was definitely needed for an upgrade,” said Supervisor V. Manuel Perez. “Plans for a new station had been on the books for over 20 years, but there was no funding. I applaud our county team for finding the funding and getting the project done to have a better facility for our firefighters who keep our communities protected.”

The previous fire station was designed for staffing of one person, when the station now has the staffing of four. The new station is designed for a 50-year lifespan, providing the fire department the infrastructure to meet current and future needs as the communities grow or change over time.

Riverside County Fire Chief Robert Fish states, “This new fire station represents a significant investment in the safety, resiliency, and future of the Desert Center community and the surrounding region. We are grateful to Supervisor Perez and the entire Riverside County Board of Supervisors for their continued support and commitment to public safety in our eastern communities. Their partnership helped make this long-awaited project a reality. Our firefighters now have a modern facility designed to support their health, readiness, and operational needs while continuing to provide the high level of emergency response and service our residents, visitors, and commerce depend on every day along the Interstate 10 corridor.”

Funding for the $14 million project came from American Rescue Plan Act, ARPA, funds.

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