Fire Department Response Times and Stations

Summary

Citizens and council members regularly express frustration with fire department response times, delays in building new stations, and inadequate coverage in growing areas. Major infrastructure projects face years-long delays despite urgent public safety needs.

Timeline

2025-12-18 — [[Tampa/Meetings/2025-12-18-2650.md|Meeting 2650]]

Speakers: Luis Viera, Bill Carlson, Guido Maniscalco

Major delays in Fire Station 24 construction criticized, with three-year gap from funding to groundbreaking. Council members noted need for additional stations downtown and other areas with growing density and response time deficits.

“Three years from the funding source until groundbreaking” “This administration does not set fire rescue as a priority” “An hour and a half to get from downtown to Water Street”

Sentiment: critical