San Mateo County starts $34 million project to replace aging, flood-prone Pescadero fire station

Mack Miles June 19, 2026

Construction is now underway on a new fire station in Pescadero, a long-planned move meant to give South Coast firefighters a safer and stronger base for emergencies that can arrive fast and without warning. — Courtesy of San Mateo County

Pescadero, California – Construction is now underway on a new fire station in Pescadero, a long-planned move meant to give South Coast firefighters a safer and stronger base for emergencies that can arrive fast and without warning.

Work began Monday, June 15, at 340 Butano Cutoff, beside Pescadero Middle/High School, where the future Fire Station 59 will rise on higher ground. The new site marks a major shift away from the current Pescadero Creek Road station, a facility built in 1957 that has served the area for decades but has also faced repeated flooding.

That flooding has created problems at the worst possible times. When storms hit, roads close, power fails and emergency calls increase, first responders need a station that can stay ready. County officials say the new station is designed with that reality in mind.

The future 12,000-square-foot facility will include updated living quarters and modern emergency response space for firefighters assigned to the South Coast. Once finished, it will support responses to wildfires, winter storms, medical calls, coastal rescues, incidents on Highway 1 and emergencies on nearby rural roads.

The station will also include a solar-powered microgrid and backup power system. That feature is intended to keep operations going during extended outages, including the kind that have lasted up to two weeks after major storms in the region.

Truebeck Construction crews began mobilizing at the property on June 15. The first phase of work includes perimeter fencing, site preparation and grading. Construction is expected to continue through 2027, with substantial completion anticipated by late summer of that year. A formal groundbreaking will be announced in the coming weeks.

During construction, the existing fire station will remain fully staffed and operational, so emergency coverage for the community will continue without interruption.

People traveling along Butano Cutoff and Pescadero Road may notice more construction traffic and activity near the project area. County staff and the contractor are expected to work to limit disruption as much as possible.

The project carries an estimated total cost of about $34 million. It is funded through Measure K, the voter-approved countywide half-cent sales tax used for local needs. Construction itself is expected to cost about $25.2 million, while the remaining funds will cover design, project management, technology, furnishings and other related costs.

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors awarded the construction contract to Truebeck earlier this year, setting the stage for a project meant to serve Pescadero and the wider South Coast for generations.

Mack Miles June 19, 2026