Hays County Emergency Services District No. 5 held a grand opening April 4 for Station No. 4, a new $7.6 million facility in Kyle. The station is expected to significantly improve emergency response times in a historically underserved area of the county, officials said.

The event featured remarks from project architects, contractors, Texas State University officials, Hays County leaders, and fire chiefs and board members from ESD No. 5.

The overview

The 9,385-square-foot facility was partially funded by a $3 million American Rescue Plan Act grant awarded by the Hays County Commissioners Court in September 2022, according to a news release.

For decades, the area lacked a nearby station, requiring volunteer firefighters to cross I-35 and railroad tracks multiple times to respond to emergencies. Firefighters often had to drive downtown to retrieve gear before returning to the scene, said Susan Meckel, Hays County ESD No. 5 commissioner.


More details

Hays County Precinct 1 Commissioner Debbie Ingalsbe said data from 2020–21 showed parts of eastern Hays County experienced emergency response times of more than 10 minutes—well above the six-minute or less response times near stations No. 1 and 2.

“This project is a testament to the dedication of the men and women who serve and protect Hays County every day,” Ingalsbe said. “We knew how vital it was to ensure that all residents, no matter what location, receive the life-saving services they deserve.”


Digging deeper


Texas State University will conduct environmental and firefighter health studies at the site, Meckel said. The university’s Connected Infrastructure for Education, Demonstration and Applied Research Consortium, or CIEDAR, helped design and implement smart infrastructure components, including embedded sensors for real-time structural monitoring.

The station also serves as a model for environmentally conscious, health-focused fire station design, and it is partnering with organizations such as Dark SkyTexas and local master naturalists to minimize light pollution and ensure ecological responsibility. Additionally, the new facility includes a community room that can be used as a gathering space and voting center.

Notable quote

“It’s a big stone and a big celebration for us being here,” Division Chief of Training Freddy Rolon said. “It’s been years of responding to calls in this community and taking quite a bit of time to get here—not anymore. We’re here with the community, to serve the community.”