A groundbreaking ceremony for a new fire and EMS station will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at 1650 SE Maffitt Lake Road in West Des Moines. The 15,288-square-foot Station 13 will include modern apparatus bays, advanced safety features for firefighters and paramedics, and a flexible fitness space that can be expanded for more room when needed. West Des Moines has seen a steady increase in essential service calls as the city’s population has increased. In 2025, the city experienced a 5% increase in fire and EMS calls compared to the previous year. The budget for the project is just over $15 million. The project is being funded by incremental property taxes paid by Microsoft data centers at 550 SE White Crane Road and 1475 SE Maffatt Lake Road. Turner Construction Co. is the project’s general contractor; Farnsworth Group designed the station.