Aurora unveils designs for newest fire station complete with museum in the Aurora Highlands

AURORA | Aurora Fire Rescue unveiled designs for the city’s newest fire station in the city’s newest developments, marking what fire officials say is a milestone in plans to expand emergency response resources in the city’s growing eastern corridor.

Station 18 is expected to open in 2027 at 3930 E-470 in northeast Aurora’s Aurora Highlands community.

The 9,600-square-foot facility will be created by renovating the existing Aurora Highlands Visitor Center to accommodate a full fire company, fire apparatus and equipment, including modern digs for firefighters, according to the city fire officials.

“This is an exciting milestone for Aurora Fire Rescue and for the residents and businesses who are helping shape the future of our eastern corridor,” Fire Chief Alec Oughton said in a statement.

The station will bring firefighters and emergency response resources closer to the growing community, Oughton said.

The fire house and visitor center will be the first completed element of the underway Aurora Highlands Main Street, a planned mixed-use centerpiece of The Aurora Highlands development, according to Highlands officials.

Carla Ferreira, CEO of The Aurora Highlands, said public safety infrastructure has been part of the development’s vision from the beginning.

“As Aurora continues to grow, investing in public safety is essential, and we’re proud to partner with the City of Aurora to help bring this important resource to residents today and for generations to come,” Ferreira said.

The station’s design includes three drive-through truck bays, a fitness room, three firefighter dorms and two shared restrooms. 

The complex also will feature a glass garage enclosure designed to display a vintage 1955 Seagrave fire engine known as “Big John.” The engine is owned by Aurora Firefighters Local 1290 and originally was assigned to Station 1. It later served as the primary engine at Stations 4 and 5 when those firehouses open