Board Threatens to Pull Fire Stations From Brentwood Over $1M in Design Costs

Supervisors on the Contra Costa Fire Protection District board used a dramatic before-and-after wildfire case study to showcase years of investment — then turned its fire on the city of Brentwood, warning that two planned stations may be relocated after city-mandated aesthetic changes pushed costs past $1 million and blocked a planning application from even being filed.

• Board warns it may relocate two fire stations out of Brentwood after city council design demands add $1M+ in costs and block a planning application

• Morgan Territory wildfire contained to 50 acres — the same fire burned 6,000 acres in 2013 before Measure X investments and the East Contra Costa annexation

• July 4th fireworks calls drop 50% compared to three years ago; drone enforcement yields 20 citations under the social host ordinance

• Fire district exploring annexation of Pinole to make permanent the current contract fire service arrangement

• Martinez resident warns of refinery turnaround safety risks — the first major maintenance project since the February 2025 fire

The sharpest exchange of the meeting came during Fire Chief McAllister's report on two planned fire stations in Brentwood — Station 94 downtown and Station 90 on Lone Tree Way — where city council design demands and procedural roadblocks have ignited a full-blown intergovernmental clash.