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Residents See Need For Fire Station

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com

Published: February 18, 2009

PORT TAMPA - Residents of this south Interbay Peninsula community agree they need a new fire station; they just don't know where to put it.

The Tampa City Council in January rejected a proposal to buy land for a new Station 19 at 8014 Interbay Blvd. Port Tampa residents said the location, adjacent to historic homes, would be disruptive, said Tom Vento, president of the Port Tampa City Civic Association.

"It was in the middle of a residential block and would change the character of our neighborhood substantially," Vento said.

The residents preferred a site near the corner of Rembrandt Drive and Manhattan Avenue, just south of Bobby Hicks Park.

Hillsborough County school officials plan to build an elementary school and athletic fields for Robinson High School on the land in 2013, at the earliest, said county schools spokeswoman Linda Cobbe.

An engineering study commissioned by school district leaders concluded sharing the land with a fire station would create drainage problems.

"We don't see any way we could build a fire station on that property," Cobbe said.

On Feb. 12, city council Chairman Thomas Scott sent a letter to the school board asking to re-open discussions between the city and school board "regarding the possibility of a compromise."

The site's comparatively high elevation means firefighters wouldn't have to evacuate during a hurricane as quickly as they do at the existing Station 19 at 4916 W. Ingraham St., said Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade. That station is in a Level A evacuation zone - the first zone ordered to clear out when a large storm approaches.

Built in the 1940s, the current station needs major renovations to make it bigger for modern fire equipment. Wade said living conditions at the station are "small, cramped and uncomfortable," and don't provide well for both genders, which wasn't a consideration six decades ago.

While the existing operation provides adequate service to Port Tampa residents, Wade said fire officials need to plan for the future. A new station still would have a four-person staff and include a rescue boat, four-wheel-drive pickup truck for brush fires and regular fire truck. But the larger facility also would have space for a ladder truck if needed.

"We're looking into a crystal ball and trying to see what the needs of South Tampa will be in 40 to 50 years," Wade said.

Wade said fire officials have spent a couple of years searching for potential sites. About 2 acres are needed. The cost - about $2 million - is available through community investment tax revenue.

All that's needed is land.

"The fire chief's position is that he won't build a fire station where the community doesn't want it," Wade said. "At this time it appears most of the options have been looked at."

Without agreement on a suitable site for a new Port Tampa station, Wade said, it is unlikely one will be built in the near future.

Members of the Gandy/Sun Bay South Civic Association last week voted to support Port Tampa residents' position.

The lengthy search for a new site, however, has those involved wondering if a compromise is possible.

Vento remains hopeful.

"People just need to talk a bit more," he said. "We want to see why it the school site wouldn't work, why it couldn't co-exist there. We're just trying to get them to talk."

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 259-7661.

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