history & highlights

The first American settlers were believed to have settled in Tampa after 1824. This followed the establishment of Fort Brooke in the downtown area by the U.S. Army. In 1855 Tampa was incorporated as a city. As the city grew in the 1800’s large cigar manufacturing communities grew as well in West Tampa and Ybor City. At this time fire was a constant treat due to the amount of wooden structures and boardwalks. In order to combat this treat seven volunteer fire companies, or “bucket brigades” were organized between 1884 and 1886. Alert, Resolute, Phoenix, Vigilant, Relief, Humanity and Myrta were responsible for the firefighting in Tampa. Their water sources included two public wells in the downtown area, the Hillsborough River and the Jackson Street ditch which would fill with water during the rainy season.

In 1886 the first hand pump was donated to the city by Mr. Robert Mugge. Known as the Mugge pump it was equipped with 350 feet of two-inch hose and was dragged through the city streets by hand.

An excerpt from an 1895 insurance map of the City of Tampa

 

 

On May 10, 1895 the city council passed a resolution authorizing Tampa’s first professional, paid fire department. A.J. Harris was the city’s first fire chief and presided over 22 firefighters with an annual budget of $18,000.

 

By 1900 there were 5 fire stations providing protection for the city.

 

• Station #1 at the southwest corner of Florida Ave. and Layfayette (now Kennedy Blvd). This is where “old” City Hall stands today.

 

• Station #2 at 1313 8^th Ave., Ybor City. This building is still standing today.

 

• Station #3 at the southwest corner of Platt St. and Magnolia Ave. in Hyde Park. This building is also still standing today

 

• Station #4 at the corner of 9^th Ave. and 18^th Street, Ybor City. First built in 1897, it was replaced in 1906 with a brick building. It was replaced with the current #4 in 1972. This building was inadvertently razed in the 1980’s.

 

• Station #5 on Florida Ave. between Palm Ave. and Oak Ave. in Tampa Heights. This station was used until 1924 when it was replaced with a new Station # 5 one block to the north. It is no longer standing.

 

March 1, 1908, Ybor City. A fire started in the wooden shingles of a boarding house at 1914 12^th Ave. The fire eventually burned over 17 blocks and destroyed 171 cottages, 42 two-story frame buildings, 5 cigar factories and 5 brick stores.

 

In 1909 Tampa purchased its first motorized apparatus. This vehicle was named the “Mary H” after Fire Chief Harris’ wife. This vehicle was built by American LaFrance and was a combination chemical and hose wagon.

 

1911 – New Station #1 at 720 Zack St. was opened and also housed headquarters for the fire department. This is now the site of the Tampa Firefighters Museum. A new Station #3 was also built in the same location as the original #3.

 

Early 1912 – Two more American LaFrance combination chemical hose trucks were purchased.

 

Station #6, still in use today, was opened in the Port of Tampa neighborhood of Palmetto Beach in early 1914.

 

April 18, 1914, Downtown. Jetton Lumber Company at Polk St. and Jefferson St. burns and destroys the mill, 42 cottages, a two-story frame building and a two-story brick storeroom.

 

July 27, 1914 was the last day horses were used in the city of Tampa Fire Department.

 

1924 – Station #2 rebuilt at 2611 N. 12^th St., (Ybor City). Station #7, 5215 Taliaferro Ave. (Seminole Heights) and Station #8, 401 S. Albany Ave. (Hyde Park) open.

 

January 1925 – The City of West Tampa is annexed and with it the station at the corner of Main St. and N. Albany Ave.

1925 - A new Station #5 is opened to replace the original staion just one block to the north. This station remains in service until the current station is built in 1985 in the Robles Park neighborhood. 

 

1925 – 1926 – The city purchased one American LaFrance 750 gpm pump, one American LaFrance 1000 gpm pump, and three Seagrave 750 gpm pumps.

1928 - Station #10 is opened in the College Hill / Belmont Heights area of East Tampa.

 

July 1, 1933 – Station #8 and Station #10 are closed and 10 men are laid off due to effects of the Great Depression.

 

1941 – Tampa’s first Rescue squad is placed in service.

1945 - Tampa's Dispatch moves from City Hall to Station #1 at Zack St. and Jefferson St.

1946 - Station #8 in West Hyde Park re-opens.

1947 - Tampa Fire receives its first radio frequency from the FAA - WLDH.

July 1949 - Dispatch has a change in radio frequency to KIA 653 - Still used today.

1953 - June or July - 'Signal' (Dispatch) opens in their own building at 2904 N. Mitchell St.

 

January 1954 – The city annexes Sulphur Springs, Drew Park, Palma Ceia and Ballast Point nearly doubling the size of the city.

 

1954 – The first Howe 1000 gpm pumper is purchased.

 

April 1955 – Rescue Squad 2 is placed in service. The city purchased three new LaFrance 1000 gpm pumpers.

 

1956 – Rescue Squad 3 placed in service.

 

July 30, 1956 - Station #11 (Sulphur Springs) opens.

 

1958 – Five new stations open. #9 in West Tampa, #15 in South Tampa, #16 in Six-Mile Creek, #17 on Davis Islands, #18 in East Tampa.

 

1959 – Station #14 opens in Palma Ceia replacing the old station on W. Barcelona Ave. 

 

1961 - Tampa’s first fireboat the 65 ft. “Gail Holland” is placed in service.

 

May 12, 1961 – The City of Port Tampa is annexed by the City of Tampa and acquires Station #19.

February 1962 - Station #10 in the College Hill / Belmont Heights neighborhood re-opens.

 

November 5, 1964 – Station #13 opens near 40^th St. and McKinley Dr. 
 

September 1970 – The first aerial platform from Snorkel Mfg. Co. was placed in service at Station #1. It was eventually moved to Station #4 when the new #4 opened in 1972.

 

April 16, 1974 – Fireboat “Frances Bellamy” replaces the “Gail Holland”. The 68 ft. vessel had a 6,000 gpm capacity and was built by Harold B. Paasch in Erie, Pa.

 

1976 – Fire Station #2 closes and reopens as the departments Supply Division.

 

June 25, 1978 – The first female firefighter Mechy Kent is hired by the department.

 

June 27, 1978 – A new Headquarters and Station #1 is built directly across the street from “Old #1”. This station includes a racquetball court, gym, sauna and Jacuzzi.

 

1981 – Old Station #7 is replaced with a new Station #7, remaining in the Seminole Heights neighborhood.

 

1982 – Old Station #8 in Hyde Park is replaced by a new Station #8 in the Westshore area.

1985 - Old Station #3 is replaced with a new Station #3, remaining in the Hyde Park neighborhood and Old Station #5 in the Tampa Heights neighborhood is replaced by new Station #5 in Robles Park.

1986 - 3 Seagrave engines arrive and are assigned to Engine 1, Engine 3 and Engine 7.

 

1988 – Tampa places in service their first Ventilation Truck. Vent 1 was equipped with a diesel powered turbine fan capable of moving 80,000 CFM through a 3 foot flexible duct.

1988 - 4 Seagrave engines arrive and are assigned to Engine 5, Engine 7, Engine 8 and Engine 11.

 

Tampa trains their first Hazardous Material Technicians. Originally assigned to Engine 31, they are all now housed at Station #6 in the Port of Tampa.

1990 - Tampa receives it last 2 Seagrave engines. They are assigned to Engine 1 and a Squirt is assigned to Engine 9.

 

1991 – Tampa purchases their first enclosed cab engines. Two Pierce Lance two-stage 1250 gpm pumps were placed at Station #4 (Engine #4) and Station #5 (Engine #5).

1992 - 3 Pierce Dash engines arrive and are placed at Engine 1, Engine 3 and Engine 10.

1994 - 2 Pierce Dash Squirts are assigned to Engine 3 and Engine 4.

1997 - The first 5 of many more to come arrive. Tampa gets 5 Pierce Quantum engines. They are assigned to Engines 1, 8, 13, 14, and 15.

1999 - 5 more Pierce Quantum engines arrive and are assigned to Engines 5, 7, 11, 12 and 18.

 

October 1999 – Fire Station #12 is rebuilt in the mirror image next door, and slightly behind, the current #12 to make room for the widening of Hillsborough Ave.  It is dedicated in May of 2000.

 

May 19, 2000 - A 454 unit apartment complex under construction in Ybor City caught fire after a forklift operator snagged a high-tension power line. The fire burned the six square block complex and damaged many exposures.

2000 - 2 Pierce Quantum engines arrive and get assigned to Engine 9 and Engine 14.

2001 - 2 more Pierce Quantum engines arrive and get housed as Engine 1 and Engine 21. 

2002 - HIT 6 is replaced with a new Pierce Enforcer.

January 5, 2002 - Tampa makes national news when a teenager flies his plane into the Bank of America.

2002 - Fire Station #13 is rebuilt on the west side of Busch Gardens replacing the 38 year old Station #13 which was on the east side of Busch Gardens.

2002 - Fire Station #21 is built in the Cross Creek area of New Tampa. This station was opened to decrease response times from distant stations traveling through heavily congested roads.

2003 - 4 new Pierce apparatus arrive. 2 Quantum engines, Engine 8 and Engine 13 as well as 2 Dash trucks, Truck 9 and Truck 13.

2005 - 2 new Pierce Quantum engines arrive and replace Engine 3 and Engine 4.

March 2006 - New Fire Station #2 at Tampa International Airport opens, combining and replacing Station #2 (west side) and Station #22 (east side). This centrally located station brings together 4 ARFF units, 1 paramedic unit, 2 reserve ARFF units and a mass casualty trailer. The firefighters assigned to this station enjoy a state-of-the-art facility that includes a racquetball court, sauna, hot tub, class room and gym.

2006 - Tampa purchases 5 Pierce Enforcers which become assigned to Engines 8, 10, 11, 13 and 15.

2007 - The first 2 Pierce Quantums in the new 'Buccaneer' paint scheme arrive. Engine 1 and Truck 1, a 100' Tractor-drawn ladder, are placed at Station #1.

2008 - Engine 5 and Engine 12, 2 new Pierce Quantums, are placed in service.

2010 - Tampa receives its largest delivery of Pierce Quantums. The 6 new engines get assigned to Engines 7, 8 , 13, 14, 15, and 18.

April 19, 2012 - Fire Station #22 is opened in the New Tampa area of Cross Creek and Morris Bridge Road. Like Fire Station #21, this station was added to improve protection and response times to the ever growing area of New Tampa.