July 22, 2026 – The Orange County Fire Authority (“OCFA”) is moving forward with a focused path to expedite the delivery of the best long-term fire and emergency medical service solution for Laguna Woods residents: Completing Permanent Fire Station 12.
After extensive evaluation, OCFA determined that the previously proposed Temporary Station 12 project presented significant logistical challenges that would make it difficult to complete efficiently and effectively. Rather than continue investing time and resources into a temporary facility with unresolved obstacles, OCFA will now redirect those efforts toward the permanent station project.
This is a positive step for Laguna Woods. Focusing on the permanent facility allows OCFA and its partners to streamline a project that will provide the lasting public safety benefit the agency and City of Laguna Woods have been working towards: A permanent Fire Station 12 that bolsters service coverage while supporting OCFA’s regional emergency response system.
Interim Service Plan Remains in Place
In the meantime, OCFA Engine 12 will continue serving the City of Laguna Woods while operating out of Fire Station 19 near the border of Laguna Woods and Lake Forest. This interim plan has been — and continues to be — an excellent temporary solution, as it provides seamless and uninterrupted fire and emergency medical response coverage for all of Laguna Woods.
Project Phases and Milestones
The permanent station project is expected to move forward in two phases: a design phase in Fiscal Year 2026-27 and a construction phase in Fiscal Year 2027-28. With a proposed station site off Moulton Parkway across from the Laguna Woods Village Golf Course, the project has two key milestones:
OCFA is committed to working collaboratively with the City of Laguna Woods and other stakeholders to reach these milestones and will continue providing updates as the project advances.
