Deer Springs Fire Protection District Celebrates Grand Opening of New Fire Station 2
By Michelle Zipse/Resident
On Saturday, June 13, the Deer Springs Fire Protection District welcomed community members, elected officials, firefighters, and distinguished guests to celebrate the Grand Opening of the new Fire Station 2, one of three fire stations serving the district.The morning’s
festivities included an official bell ringing ceremony, remarks from local leaders and fire officials, a ribbon cutting, and guided tours of the new three-bay fire station. The state-of-the-art facility will serve as both a home and workplace for firefighters while also functioning as a command center during major emergencies.
The new station is located at 1321 Deer Springs Road in San Marcos, on the same property where the district’s previous Station 2 stood. The original facility consisted of several portable buildings on land that was donated to the fire district in 1982. After
years of planning and collaboration, Deer Springs Fire Protection District secured the funding and approvals needed to construct a permanent fire station. District officials credited the efforts of retired State Assemblywoman Marie Waldron, Fifth District Supervisor Jim Desmond, and numerous community partners for helping make the project a reality.
District Fire Chief Thomas Shoots welcomed attendees and thanked the public for their support before introducing Deer Springs Fire Protec-
Grand Marshal Royce Williams enjoys seeing parade
For maybe the first time in the history of te Valley Center Western Days parade, Saturday morning May 23, the grand marshal got to see the parade itself.
Usually, the grand marshal, because he is riding near the front, doesn’t get to see the entries. That changed when Grand Marshal Royce Williams, Medal of Honor winner, was given a tour of the parade by his driver, Paul Majchrzak.
Majchrzak described the mood of the 101-year-old retired Navy captain: “He thoroughly enjoyed himself yesterday. It turns out he was very comfortable in my passenger seat. And didn’t want to leave until it got too hot in the sun.”
Later: “At the end of the parade, I drove back out of fire station into middle of intersection at Lilac. The police patrol smiled at us as we sat in middle of intersection pointing north looking at parade coming at us.”
Majchrzak asked Royce if he wanted to see more of the parade. “And he gleefully said yes. So I drove us back out there. Which was great because it allowed all sorts of veterans to walk over and thank him. Plus we had visits from John Franklin and Rebecca Jones. She actually pulled her horse up next to my car, got off and hugged Royce. It was so cool.”
Majchrzak added, “I think this should become a tradition. The Grand Marshal never sees the parade itself. Royce LOVED seeing all the bands. And the dancing horses. And the floats. The ‘front row’ seats were awesome.”
He concluded, “If I happened to drive the Grand Marshal again, like I did with Lori [Gonzalez] last year, I will do this again. The Grand Marshal deserves to see parade since they never see much at all.”
A tickled Grand Marshal Royce Williams is greeted by San Marcos Mayor Rebecca Jones, who got off her horse to give him a hug.
District 5 Supervisor Jim Desmond
Ribbon cutting ceremony
tion District Board President Mark Jackson. Jackson spoke about the importance of the new station and the improvements it will bring to the district and surrounding communities. He also recognized the many individuals and organizations involved in the project, including lead architect Christie Jewett of COAR (Community Architects). COAR partnered with EC Construction Company to design and build the modern facility. Cal Fire Assistant Chief Robert Reynolds highlighted the long-standing partnership between Deer Springs Fire Protection District and Cal Fire, which began in 1994. Through a cooperative agreement, Cal Fire staffs district fire stations and provides emergency services throughout the region.
“This station is the perfect example of what can happen when local, county, and state agencies work to-
wards a common goal,” Reynolds said. “Deer Springs Fire provides local governance and community leadership, Cal Fire provides the personnel, operational support, and wildfire protection, and the San Diego County Fire helps strengthen regional response capabilities and specialized rescue equipment and resources. Each agency brings something different to the table.”
Supervisor Jim Desmond emphasized the broader significance of the project.
“Today is about more than just the ribbon cutting of a new building,” Desmond said. “It’s about the safety of the people who live in North County and the future of North County.”
Following the remarks, Fire Captain Anthony Watters of Station 2 rang the ceremonial bell. Dignitaries gathered for photographs before retired Assemblywoman Marie Waldron officially cut the ribbon.
After the ceremony, visitors toured the facility and met firefighters who serve the region. Representatives from the Deer Springs Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and the Deer Springs Fire Safety Council staffed informational booths and shared resources with residents. CERT members encouraged community members to participate in volunteer training programs and become involved in emergency preparedness efforts.
The new station includes numerous features designed to support firefighter health, safety, and operational readiness. The facility houses fire engines, search-andrescue equipment, and specialized emergency response resources. It also includes crew quarters, a workout room, and the ability to serve as a command center during major incidents.
To ensure continuity during emergencies, the station is equipped
with a backup generator that can maintain operations during power outages.The building was also designed with firefighter health in mind. Climate-controlled and well insulated, the station incorporates specialized ventilation systems that remove vehicle exhaust and other contaminants from the building, helping reduce exposure to harmful fumes and chemicals linked to cancer and respiratory illnesses.
A key component of the new station is its advanced fire alerting technology. Deer Springs Fire Protection District partnered with Radio Mobile, a local company that has worked with the district on several projects, to install a sophisticated alerting system that notifies personnel when emergency calls are dispatched.The system can selectively alert only the firefighters needed for a particular response, minimizing disruptions throughout the station. Notifications begin with tones and gradually escalate through lighting and other alert mechanisms, helping personnel transition safely from rest to response mode.Radio Mobile also integrated communications technology within district vehicles, allowing dispatch information to be transmitted directly to iPads carried by firefighters. This ensures personnel continue receiving emergency alerts even when they are away from the station.
The new Fire Station 2 represents a significant investment in public safety and emergency preparedness for North County communities. Deer Springs Fire Protection District serves approximately 13,000 residents and responds to emergencies throughout portions of Valley Center, Escondido, San Marcos, and surrounding areas across San Diego County.As residents toured the facility and met the firefighters who serve them, the event showcased not only a new building but also a continuing commitment to protecting the communities of North County for generations to come.
Community Foundation Update
By:
We are coming to the close of the Hidden Meadows Community Foundation’s annual fundraising drive for 2026. So far, the returns have been decent, and we have received just a little under $10,000 in contributions from 80+ households in Hidden Meadows and Rim Rock. On behalf of the Foundation Board of Directors and the community at large we want to sincerely thank all who contributed. Your donations are essential in allowing us to provide ongoing support for four areas of community life: Scholarships, Beautification, Community Events and Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
Although $10K is a good number, that still leaves us some thousands of dollars below the historical average, and what is necessary to support traditional program spending. We hope to close that gap in the next 60 days. We will be reaching out directly to some of our regular donors whom we haven’t heard from yet. More importantly our hope is to
expand our reach by engaging new donors - residents who have not participated in the past – and encouraging them to support this effort. While we hugely appreciate our regular supporters, those folks make up less than 10% of the households in Hidden Meadows/ Rimrock. If you are reading this article and have not donated previously, please consider making a small contribution. Your support is needed if we are going to fulfill our charter and “help our neighborhood thrive by connecting neighbors, preserving what makes it special, and supporting the people who make it home”.
At the foundation we feel we have an obligation to ensure the funds you generously contribute are efficiently spent on programs which provide benefit to the community. In calendar year 2025 Foundation expenses totaled $22,353 with 86% of the spending returned directly to the community. Program expenses for 2025 totaled $19,150 includ-
ing $7,500 for scholarships granted, $5,150 spent on median maintenance, $3,000 for Neighbors Helping Neighbors grants and $3,499 on community events. 2025 events included the Spring Kids Carnival, Volunteer Appreciation, July 4th Celebration, Vintage Car Show, Trunk or Treat, Turkey Trot, Toys for Tots, and various Seller’s Faires.
An additional $3,203 was spent on administration, the majority of that going for insurance $1,950 (expensive but necessary), and the remainder: $623 for the annual fundraising drive, $210 for rental of the Foundation P.O. box, $203 on website expenses and $217 for other admin.
Thanks again to all who contributed this year and to those who may have missed the solicitation but still desire to help, you can always donate by visiting our website https://hiddenmeadowsfoundation.org.
HM neighbors at the opening ceremony
FIRE STATION From Page 1
Hidden Meadows Community Foundation