City of CL, POA finalize sale of fire station

The City of Canyon Lake has finalized the purchase of Fire Station 1 from the Canyon Lake Property Owners Association, marking a significant development in the city’s public safety infrastructure. The deal, nearly a year in the making, was completed with the closing of escrow on Dec. 7, with the sale officially recorded the following day.

The city acquired the property for $1.39 million, including the 2,760 square-foot fire station located on a 39,540 square-foot subdivided parcel at 28730 Vacation Drive. As part of the sale, the parcel known as ‘parcel 12’ was split, allowing the Canyon Lake POA to retain ownership of the North Ski Area parking lot and launch ramp for continued use by residents.

City of Canyon Lake Mayor, left, and Canyon Lake POA President Bill Van Vleet address the community as they jointly announce the finalization of the sale of the Fire Station on Vacation Drive from the POA to the city. Photo provided by City of Canyon Lake

“This is a historic event for our city as we now own our first fire station,” City of Canyon Lake Mayor Jeremy Smith said. “By working together, the city and Canyon Lake POA were able to close this deal ahead of schedule and now we can turn our attention toward making improvements to the station and actively seeking grants to ensure this station best serves our Canyon Lake Fire Department and citizens for years to come.”

The parcel has been under the ownership of the Canyon Lake POA since 1970 and first operated as a fire station with a volunteer department in 1980. Since then, it has been utilized by various agencies to provide Fire and EMS services to Canyon Lake residents. The city, when it organized its own fire department beginning January 2022, occupied the building under a lease with the Canyon Lake POA.

Canyon Lake POA President Bill Van Vleet expressed satisfaction with the collaborative effort, noting that the transfer of ownership to the city opens opportunities for grants and continued provision of essential lifesaving services to the community.

The journey to this sale began in January, following the establishment of the city’s own fire department a year prior, under the leadership of City Fire Chief Jeff LaTendresse. The purchase of the station was a strategic move by the city to enhance its public safety capabilities and gain greater control over the facility’s operations and improvements.

Both the city and the POA are committed to continued collaboration, ensuring the best possible service for the residents of Canyon Lake, both sets of leaders expressed.