Construction continues on new facilities throughout the county

(Seguin) — An $18 million investment in emergency services is helping Guadalupe County prepare for the future.

County officials say the investment, made possible through American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds allocated in 2023, is supporting the construction of a new fire station and Emergency Operations Center while also helping strengthen emergency resources throughout Guadalupe County.

Patrick Pinder, Guadalupe County fire marshal and emergency management coordinator, says the goal is to help strengthen fire and emergency response. He says these new emergency resources will be positioned closer to the people who need them as the county continues to grow.

“One of the things that we’re looking at is continuing to move forward. We have that location coming in, and it’s a brand-new facility where we’ll have fully staffed firefighters full-time. We’ll be putting those resources closer to those citizens in need. That’s really what the intent is — to make sure that when you dial 911, those resources are in the right location and that the adequate and timely response that most people are expecting is there,” said Pinder.

The county’s new fire station is being constructed near Huber Road and FM 758. Pinder says the approximately 8,500- to 9,000-square-foot facility will provide a permanent location for full-time firefighters and emergency equipment.

The county is also constructing a new Emergency Operations Center and warehouse just across the street from the Guadalupe County Sheriff’s Office. Pinder says the approximately 19,000-square-foot facility will include roughly 10,000 square feet of warehouse space for emergency supplies and equipment.

Pinder says the new EOC was born out of lessons learned during the COVID-19 pandemic, when emergency officials had to coordinate vaccination clinics, medical resources and other community needs from existing county facilities.

“During COVID, the emergency management office was geared up doing all the shot clinics and operating out of the courthouse because that’s where our operations center was. This new facility will give us a warehouse for medical supplies and resources for floods or natural disasters, so we can have those resources available to the community. It will also give us a place to bring all of our partners together — state emergency management officials, cities, fire departments, elected officials and others — in one location when we need to respond,” said Pinder.

The county fire department was established in 2020 to create a coordinated approach to certified fire and emergency medical response across unincorporated areas of Guadalupe County. Since then, officials say Guadalupe County Fire Rescue has expanded to 21 active personnel while continuing to work alongside municipal fire departments and eight volunteer fire departments.

Pinder says that partnership remains critical as the county continues to grow.

He says the county contracts with municipal fire departments, including Seguin, Schertz and Cibolo, to provide coverage in certain areas. Volunteer departments also continue serving communities throughout the county, with Guadalupe County Fire Rescue providing additional support and full-time response capabilities.

“All of us have the same goal, and that’s to provide service to the residents. The volunteer fire departments do a great job, but the call volume is coming up. We’re seeing growth throughout the county, especially in areas like Marion. What used to be farmland is now becoming residential areas, and those residential areas require service — whether that’s fire, EMS or law enforcement. We’re used to responding to large rural properties, but now you have houses being built right on top of each other. That’s why Guadalupe County Fire Rescue is continuing to grow,” said Pinder.

Pinder says the need throughout the county continues to grow.

For example, he says the Marion area alone has seen thousands of homes platted for future development, creating additional demand for emergency services.

While Guadalupe County Fire Rescue responds to approximately 2,000 to 2,500 calls annually, some of the county’s volunteer departments are also experiencing significant increases in call volume. Pinder says the Marion Volunteer Fire Department is responding to more than 600 calls annually.

Pinder says the facilities represent an important step in preparing Guadalupe County for continued growth while ensuring that volunteer departments, municipal departments and county firefighters can continue working together.

“As our communities expand, we have to make sure that every household has access to timely, consistent and professional emergency response. We know the growth is coming, and we know the growth is already here. We’re trying to get ahead of it. We can’t do it overnight, but we’re continuing to plan for the future and put those resources where they’re needed most,” said Pinder.

The county’s ARPA funding also included $100,000 for each of the county’s eight volunteer fire departments to help provide additional resources.

Both the new Emergency Operations Center and fire station are expected to be completed by the end of this year.