New Fire Station #4 Coming to Waco

The 60-year-old facility on Speight Avenue will be replaced by a larger, more modern station on La Salle Avenue.

Apr. 9, 2026 at 12:20am

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A grid of stylized fire truck icons in bright neon colors, conceptually representing the new, modernized fire station facility.The vibrant new Fire Station #4 will bring a bold, modern aesthetic to Waco's emergency services.Waco Today

The City of Waco is replacing the aging Fire Station #4, which has been located on Speight Avenue since 1966. The new $5.99 million, 8,600-square-foot facility on La Salle Avenue will increase the available fire safety personnel from three to eight and add an extra apparatus bay, addressing the growing needs of the busy fire district that covers Baylor University and parts of central and south Waco.

Why it matters

The current Fire Station #4 has become increasingly costly to maintain after 60 years of 24/7 use, and the new location and expanded capacity will allow the fire department to better serve the densely populated area that includes Baylor's expanding campus and surrounding neighborhoods.

The details

The aging Fire Station #4 on Speight Avenue has had ongoing issues with plumbing, insulation, and the roof, leading the city to determine it's no longer worth the maintenance costs. The new $5.99 million, 8,600-square-foot facility on La Salle Avenue will increase the available fire safety personnel from three to eight, with room for future expansion, and add a third apparatus bay so engine drivers won't have to reverse into the station.

  • Fire Station #4 has been located on Speight Avenue since 1966.
  • The new station is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2027, later than the original May 2024 target.

The players

Philip Burnett

Deputy Fire Chief who says the current station has become a burden on the city due to maintenance issues.

Derrick Oltmann

Waco Director of Facilities who says the new station will be more accessible and modernized to meet current firefighting needs.

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What they’re saying

“We're having we've had plumbing issues, we've had insulation, roof issue. It becomes a burden upon the City that it's almost not worth trying to save the old building.”

— Philip Burnett, Deputy Fire Chief

“It was important that we take that station and put it somewhere that's a little bit more accessible and also modernize that facility. It is an older facility. It wasn't really designed with modern firefighting equipment and firefighting personnel in mind.”

— Derrick Oltmann, Waco Director of Facilities

What’s next

The new Fire Station #4 is scheduled to be completed in Spring 2027, replacing the aging facility that has been in use since 1966.

The takeaway

This investment in a new, modernized fire station demonstrates the City of Waco's commitment to public safety and keeping pace with the growing needs of the community, including the expanding Baylor University campus and surrounding neighborhoods.