Morgan Hill’s new Butterfield Fire Station, shown in this framegrab from a ribbon-cutting video in June, is fully operational, promising faster emergency response times and sustainable, all-electric operations. (Courtesy Silicon Valley Clean Energy/YouTube)

Morgan Hill has a new fire station, the city said this week.  

The Butterfield Fire Station is a “significant milestone in the city’s commitment to enhancing emergency response and public safety,” the city said in a release.  

The station is located at 17285 Butterfield Boulevard and is fully operational and improves response time, which is important for many reasons, but especially since Morgan Hill has seen an 8% increase in emergency calls compared to 2024, the city said.  

“According to the City’s Standards of Coverage study, the station improves 4-minute travel time coverage by 7% and 8-minute effective response coverage by nearly 63%,” the city said.

The Butterfield Station has an all-electric operation and solar microgrid, which reduces energy costs; an updated emergency response design and 24-hour staffing, and improved access for the community with ADA-compliant facilities and room for expansion.  

“This facility is more than just a new building,” said Fire Chief Marcus Hernandez in a statement released by the city. “It’s a long-term investment in our community’s safety, resilience, and readiness. It improves response times, adds critical staffing, and reflects our shared values of sustainability and innovation.” 

Katy St. Clair got her start in journalism by working in the classifieds department at the East Bay Express during the height of alt weeklies, then sweet talked her way into becoming staff writer, submissions editor, and music editor. She has been a columnist in the East Bay Express, SF Weekly, and the San Francisco Examiner. Starting in 2015, she begrudgingly scaled the inverted pyramid at dailies such as the Vallejo Times-Herald, The Vacaville Reporter, and the Daily Republic. She has her own independent news site and blog that covers the delightfully dysfunctional town of Vallejo, California, where she also collaborates with the investigative team at Open Vallejo. A passionate advocate for people with developmental disabilities, she serves on both the Board of the Arc of Solano and the Arc of California. She lives in Vallejo.