A first-of-its-kind investment of $3.75 million in funding has been secured by Assemblymember Celeste Rodriguez and State Sen. Caroline Menjivar for the Sylmar community to strengthen wildfire prevention and emergency response.
The investment includes $2.5 million in Proposition 4 funding for wildfire mitigation, new fire roads and emergency access improvements that will help strengthen Sylmar’s defenses against future wildfires by reducing hazardous fuels and creating stronger buffers between surrounding wildlands and neighborhoods. These investments are particularly important in a community where limited access routes can complicate both emergency response and evacuations during a wildfire.
An additional $1.25 million, secured by Menjivar, will help advance a new fire station serving Sylmar, building on local funding toward the station’s design and the continued support of Los Angeles City Councilmember Monica Rodriguez. A new station would strengthen local emergency response capacity, improve response times and provide firefighters with a greater ability to attack a fire quickly before it threatens surrounding neighborhoods.
Sylmar sits along a high-risk wildland-urban interface and has repeatedly faced major wildfires, including the Sayre Fire in 2008, the Saddleridge Fire in 2019, and, most recently, the Hurst Fire during the January 2025 LA fires. Limited access routes, and Sylmar’s longstanding equestrian community, also present unique challenges during wildfire evacuations.
“Our families in Sylmar and along the foothills know what it means to live with the threat of wildfire. They have experienced the fires, the evacuations, the smoke and the uncertainty that comes with wondering whether their loved ones, homes and neighborhoods will be safe,” said Rodriguez. “This funding is about making sure our community is better prepared … while investing in the emergency response capacity we need when every minute matters.”
Geronimo Bugarin, president of Horsemen in Action, Coalition of Sylmar, said they “survived the January 2025 fire in Sylmar, evacuating 70 horses at night. We are very grateful to have new planning funds and look forward to working with Assemblywoman Rodriguez’s team to prepare for a safer future and fire evacuations.”
Funding for wildfire mitigation will help Sylmar better prepare for, respond to and protect against the growing threat of wildfires.
“Sylmar’s safety and future depend on continued partnership, investment and action – and we are grateful to everyone working to make our community stronger,” said Kurt Cabrera-Miller, president of the Sylmar Neighborhood Council.
Where exactly will the new fire station be built? What is the expected timeline for start of build if known?
Excerpt from The Sun.
Station 31 is planned to be constructed at 16300 Foothill Boulevard, near Filbert Street. The project is currently in the planning and design phase. As of yet, there is no firm projected timeline for completion, but it’s estimated to be realized in 3 to 4 years.