On Oct. 14, city officials and firefighters broke ground on Amarillo’s first new fire station in more than a decade — a $7.4 million investment designed to cut emergency response times and serve the city’s growing northwest corridor.
Located at 810 Quail Creek, the two-story, 19,000-square-foot facility will serve neighborhoods near the medical district and west of Loop 335, where population growth and call volume have steadily increased. The Amarillo City Council approved the construction contract with Plains Builders, Inc., in July.
When complete, the station will include living quarters, a classroom and training space, and a basement design that reduces grading costs while creating room for future expansion. Construction is expected to take 13 to 14 months, depending on weather.
Fire Chief Jason Mays said the project represents both a milestone for the department and a major step forward for Amarillo residents.
“This is a great day for everyone involved,” Mays said. “This station isn’t replacing an old one — it’s expanding our force. It’s the first completely new fire station we’ve added in a long time. We’re adding another crew, another fire truck, and four more sets of hands ready to respond. That’s nearly an 8% increase in our coverage capacity.”
The station will fill a coverage gap in one of Amarillo’s busiest districts, where current response times often exceed four minutes. The nearest stations are located several miles away at Western and Third Avenue and at 34th and Santa Fe.
“We’ve had extended response times in this area,” Mays said. “This new station means we can reach fires faster, save property, and respond more quickly to medical emergencies where every second matters.”
Mays said staffing the new facility will require additional hiring and training over the next year to bring a full crew online when construction is complete.
“Every new station means more firefighters, more apparatus, and more ongoing costs,” he said. “We’re working closely with city leadership to make sure the personnel side keeps pace with our infrastructure. It’s not just about putting up a building — it’s about ensuring we have the right people, properly trained, to deliver service from day one.”
He added that the department is finalizing a roadmap for recruitment and long-term workforce planning, including coordination with consultants and data analysis to project future staffing needs.
Mayor Cole Stanley said the project reflects the city’s long-term commitment to investing in critical infrastructure and protecting residents as Amarillo continues to grow.
“This groundbreaking shows that we’re not just reacting to growth — we’re planning for it,” Stanley said. “Our citizens deserve fast, reliable emergency response no matter where they live, and this project is a clear example of the city keeping that promise.”
The department is working with planning firm MIG, which helped develop the city’s comprehensive plan, to create a long-term fire master plan. Mays said that while Station 14 fills an urgent need, future projections may require “two or three more stations” to keep pace with development.
Jerry Danforth, the city’s director of facilities, capital projects and building safety, said the station’s location was carefully selected to support both current and future needs.
“This site sits between Quail Creek and Ninth Avenue near a signaled intersection, allowing fire trucks to enter and exit quickly,” Danforth said. “It’s ideally placed to serve the hospital district and expanding areas toward Texas Tech and Liberty Circle.”
Designed by Sims Architects, the new station will also include a dedicated training area, allowing crews citywide to conduct drills on-site rather than traveling to the airport. Danforth said feedback from residents has been overwhelmingly positive.
“Fire Station 14 represents growth, preparedness, and commitment,” Mays said. “We’ve been well supported by this city, and we’ll keep doing everything we can to deliver the best service possible.”
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo breaks ground on Fire Station 14, signaling commitment to community safety
Reporting by Michael Cuviello, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
