Groundbreaking Celebrates Plans for New Fire Station 7

From left: Menifee City Council members Greg August and John Denver; Cal Fire Deputy Chief Todd Williams; Mayor Scott Mann; City Council members Matt Liesemeyer and Lesa Sobek; City Manager Rob Johnson. Menifee 24/7 photo: Kristen Spoon

A vacant lot in the Sun City community that was once the site of the Kings Inn will soon be occupied by another historic structure in Menifee .

Civic leaders, fire officials and residents gathered at the corner of Cherry Hills Boulevard and Bradley Road Wednesday for the groundbreaking for a new Fire Station 7. The $4.6 million state-of-the-art facility, funded by developer fees paid to the city, is expected to open in summer 2017.

In addition to becoming a much-needed upgrade to the existing Fire Station 7 further north on Bradley Road, the new station will be the first public facility to be owned and operated by the City of Menifee.

"This fire station will be the cornerstone of the Sun City community, just like the library across the street," Mayor Scott Mann (below) told guests gathered for the celebration. "The city is maturing and transforming. We are remembering history while we build new facilities.

"The great thing is that no general fund dollars were used in this project. It's all restricted funds. That enables us to keep those dollars for public safety staff."

The fire station will occupy the southernmost portion of the former Kings Inn lot. The 2.1-acre site will include two structures (housing and apparatus bay). The main building will include living space for an eight-person crew; captain's quarters; full commercial kitchen and dining room; workout room/gym; lobby and office space.

In conjunction with the Menifee Valley Historical Association, the city will place a plaque near the corner of the lot commemorating the Kings Inn, built by developer Del Webb in 1962 and destroyed by fire in the 1970s. The current Fire Station 7, built in 1972, will be closed. It remains one of the busiest fire stations in the state.

In addition to Mann, Wednesday's program included City Manager Rob Johnson, the four other members of the Menifee City Council, Cal Fire Deputy Chief Todd Williams, and several local firefighters.