‘Lucky No. 7’ Madera County Fire Station Celebrated with Dedication Ceremony

“Firefighters make the best neighbors,” said Madera County Supervisor Brett Frazier at the dedication ceremony and official opening of Madera County’s newest fire station.

Madera County Board of Supervisors, Madera County leaders, and community members gathered July 11 to celebrate the first new fire station to be built in eight years in Madera County.  Located in Tesoro Viejo’s Town Center, Madera County Fire Station No. 7 – “Lucky Number 7” – officially opened last fall, making the firefighters at this station one of the first residents of Tesoro Viejo.

“It’s welcoming and reassuring to know that these firefighters are housed here within the Town Center at our community,” said Brent McCaffrey, president of Tesoro Viejo.

As the Sierra Star News reported, at Thursday’s grand opening, Frazier thanked “the Tesoro Viejo team” for “their leadership in creating a community with public safety at the core.”

The fire station is housed in a 4,600-square foot building that also includes a Madera County Sheriff substation and serves the Tesoro Viejo community, as well as the surrounding southeastern Madera County.  Designed to reflect the agricultural heritage of the area, the buildings will adapt over time to meet the growing needs of the community.

“As the community grows, we will build a larger, permanent building right here in Tesoro Viejo to serve the community and southeastern Madera County,” McCaffrey said.

The fire station features two apparatus bays and three dorm bedrooms to house one fire company.  It is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with firefighters trained for emergency medical assistance.

Making its debut, the shiny, new fire engine is a 2018 Rosenbauer with a rear mounted 1,500 GPM pump and 750-gallon water tank. Eliminating the large traditional pump house for a more maneuverable apparatus.

The new fire station and fire engine will allow the fire department to provide better service with advanced firefighting technology that will benefit the residents of Tesoro Viejo as well as residents throughout Madera County.

“I know first-hand that the fire personnel who serve in this station are already a big part of this new community,” Frazier said.  “Their presence from day one has sent an important message that public safety is important.”

The event featured a special invocation by Mike Unger, executive director of the Madera Rescue Mission, as well as a flag presentation and Pledge of Allegiance by members of Cal Fire.

Madera County Fire Chief Matt Watson welcomed guests to enjoy a self-guided tour of the state-of-art facility.  And, like a great neighbor, he welcomed the community to come anytime to tour the new fire station.

“Please enjoy a tour today or feel free to come by anytime – just knock on the door, and we will gladly give you a tour,” Watson said.

Tesoro Viejo is proud be home to essential services and utilities that benefit residents from the start, like Madera Co. Fire Station No. 7.