After years of commitment from citizens and the city, construction of the new Fire Station 9 in Long Beach is finally beginning.
Long Beach city officials and staff held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday, Aug. 27, at the site where the new Fire Station 9 will soon be built. Construction on the project began in June and is expected to be completed in early 2026, officials said.
The new fire station at 4101 Long Beach Blvd. will provide resources and improve response times to emergencies in the Uptown neighborhood — including Los Cerritos, Cal Heights, Bixby Knolls and surrounding communities — officials said.
“It’s not every day that we get the opportunity to break ground on a fire station,” Mayor Rex Richardson said at the ceremony. “It’s been a long time coming to get here.”
The original Fire Station 9 – located a few blocks south of the new location – was closed in 2019 after the facility suffered repeated mold and water damage.
The firefighters stationed there were moved to a new building that same year, and soon afterward city officials concluded that properly repairing the original station would be more expensive than relocating it.
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After the decision was made to abandon the old Fire Station 9 site, the City Council declared the property surplus land and staff began informing interested parties in the area about the development opportunity.
The city attempted in 2021 to recruit local housing agencies, the Long Beach Unified School District and various Los Angeles County government agencies to convert the property into affordable housing, park space or an educational building, but to no avail.
Long Beach then launched a bidding process to make another attempt to sell the land, but again no bids were received.
In 2023, the city entrusted the fate of Fire Station 9 to a real estate agent in hopes of finding a buyer—which proved to be a fruitful endeavor the following year.
In March, the Long Beach City Council finally approved a $19 million contract with construction company AMG & Associates to build the brand new Fire Station 9 on Long Beach Boulevard, ending a years-long search for a new permanent location for the facility.
The original Fire Station 9 still stands. The city gave the facility a local historic designation to preserve some of its significant architectural elements, and it was sold earlier this year to Gemmae Bake Shop, a long-standing Long Beach business, for $750,000.
At the groundbreaking, Richardson thanked the firefighters of Station 9 who have endured the changes of the past few years and will finally have a permanent, state-of-the-art facility in the next two years.
“The commitment to make this possible,” said Councilman Al Austin, “the commitment to relocate our firefighters and make sure there is as little impact on response times as possible was very important.”
The Fire Station 9 project began in the 8th District, represented by Austin, but after redistricting in 2021, it moved to the 5th District, represented by Council Member Megan Kerr.
“Whether it’s responding to a fire, a medical crisis or other situations, this station will undoubtedly save lives, improve response times and make a tangible difference to the well-being of residents,” Austin said. “This is a very touching and personal project for me and many others in this community; it is a symbol of unwavering commitment to safety and security.”
The new Fire Station 9 will be 130,000 square feet and two stories high. The design includes rooftop solar panels, energy-efficient lighting and concrete paving, among other features.
A traffic light will also be installed at the intersection of Long Beach Boulevard and Randolph Place for safety and better visibility, said Eric Lopez, public works director. There will also be a community gathering area – similar to Station 12 – where community members can meet at the fire station for social events or safety training.
The project is expected to cost about $31 million, with construction costs of about $19 million to be raised from Measure A funds, officials said.
Fire Station 9 will house seven firefighters as well as a battalion chief. Fire Station 9’s old fire engine and rescue vehicle will remain on site and will also house other units and personnel, said Fire Chief Dennis Buchanan.
“Today is about making sure the people we love get the services they need and the people we love can serve our community in a space that is appropriate and ready for their professional work,” Kerr said. “It serves both their needs and ours, and that’s something I think we can’t forget. As we celebrate this new chapter for Ward 9, it’s a great day for our community, it’s a great day for the department that serves our community so well and for the members of that community who rely on it every day.”
Staff writer Kristy Hutchings contributed to this report.
