El Paso opens station; council halts 5 Points upgrades
PUBLISHED Jul 9, 2026, 1:45 PM ET
Read, Watch or Listen
El Paso opened its new Central Fire Station downtown on Thursday, July 9, city officials said, consolidating Fire Stations 1, 9, and 11 into a $23 million facility funded by the voter-approved 2019 Public Safety Bond. The opening included public tours, public art displays, firefighter demonstrations, and recruitment information from Fire Chief Jonathan Killings. El Paso County Commissioner Jackie Butler hosted a free backpack giveaway on Friday, July 10, distributing 400 backpacks donated by Marathon at Montana Vista Fire Rescue Station between 6 and 8 p.m. Separately, the City Council voted 7-1 not to proceed with planned 5 Points upgrade projects, leaving only street repairs and relieving local business owners.
By Michael Grant | JQJO News
Timeline of Events
- 2019: Voter-approved Public Safety Bond authorizes funding for major public safety projects.
- June 2026: Business owners raised concerns about planned 5 Points construction impacts.
- City Council voted 7-1 to cancel planned 5 Points upgrades, retaining only street repairs.
- July 9, 2026: El Paso opened the new Central Fire Station downtown.
- July 10, 2026: Commissioner Jackie Butler hosted a free backpack giveaway distributing 400 backpacks.
News Intelligence
- The new Central Fire Station means quicker response times, enhancing your safety. The halt on 5 Points upgrades could mean less disruption for local businesses. If you're near Montana Vista Fire Rescue Station, keep an eye out for future community events like the backpack giveaway.
- Articles Published:
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- Right Leaning:
- 1
- Left Leaning:
- 0
- Neutral:
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- Distribution:
- Left 0%, Center 67%, Right 33%
Local families received school supplies, the Fire Department gained a consolidated modern facility funded by the 2019 Public Safety Bond, and downtown businesses avoided prolonged disruptive construction after the City Council halted planned 5 Points upgrade projects.
Contractors and agencies that planned to execute the 5 Points upgrade projects lost anticipated work opportunities and potential revenue when the City Council voted not to proceed with those larger upgrades.
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