San Diego’s Fire Station 4 Story

Is the City ashamed of Fire Station 4, located on the corner of Eighth Avenue and J Street? The building has no signs indicating it’s a fire station and doesn’t fly the California or United States flag. The only signage is two plaques on the front of the station, one noting it was built by president Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration (in 1937) and another dedicating it to firefighter Roy C. Gundlach, who lost his life in the line of duty on June 26, 1918.

When one passes the building, it is natural to wonder what the purpose of it might be; I wondered until one day when the doors were open and I saw a fire truck inside.

When I sought more information on the station, San Diego’s deputy chief Lorraine Hutchinson responded in an email: “Fire Station No. 4 is designated as [Historic Resources Board] Site #326, and was designated on 10/26/1994. It was designated for its architecture and community significance. As a designated resource, it would be highly preferable if the original signage could be reconstructed.... As a designated resource, the historic section will need to review and approve the signage as consistent with the Standards. Logistics in the process of securing a competitive price quote to address the historic building signage, flag pole and exterior lighting. Once the quotes are received, funding will need to be identified.”

This reply was sent on October 6, 2010, and the station still doesn’t fly a flag.