West Tampa Fire Station No. 9

Est. 1958


  

On May 10, 1895, the city council passed ordinance #307 authorizing Tampa's first professional, paid fire department. A. J. Harris was named chief to preside over 22 fire fighters in five stations at an annual budget of $18,000. The paid firefighters worked in the stations for ten to twelve days at a time. Most of the firefighters lived near their duty stations and were permitted to go home for meals, provided they could return within one hour. Their salary was equivalent to that of police patrol officers, about $600 a year.

 

Today Tampa Fire Rescue's Firefighters work a 24 hour shift , with 48 hours off.  Tampa Fire Rescue responded to over 58,000 alarms last year from 22 stations located throughout the 128 square miles of the city. Included in it's responsibility is the Port of Tampa shipping 52 million tons of cargo per year and handling more hazardous materials than anywhere else in Florida.

 

Fire station no. 9 is located on the corner of Tampania
and Chestnut St. in West Tampa

firestation2.jpg (144510 bytes)

Click to read the plaque

Poised and ready to roll, these trucks are in good shape but the facility is in need of improvement.

   

Courage, Valor, Pride and Honor wave proudly from the garage ceiling.

 
   

This cheerful fellow gets to ride on the dashboard on all the calls.

 

Visit Tampasbravest.com

Tampa Firefighters Museum

Tampa Fire Rescue photo gallery

Society for the Preservation, and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America

Fire Museum Network

Florida Antique Bucket Brigade

Florida State Firefighters Association

International Association of Fire Chiefs

 

 

MORE West Tampa pages at Tampapix:
Albany Avenue
- See the orignal "Academy of the Holy Names" and cigar factories on Albany Ave.
Columbus Drive Bridge - The Gateway to West Tampa, Hillsborough River & Rivercrest Park
Fire Station No. 9 at Tampania and Chestnut St.
Fort Homer Hesterly Armory has showcased everything from NWA wrestling to JFK, Pink Floyd and Elvis.
George Guida house at MacFarlane Park - Once the home of "Mr. West Tampa"
Howard Avenue - Travel along Howard Ave. from Main St. to St. Louis St.
La Ideal Cafeteria at Tampa Bay Blvd. and Gomez Ave., a popular West Tampa landmark
La Teresita Grocery Store at Columbus Drive and Lincoln Ave.
Macfarlane Park - A favorite of West Tampans, named for the father of West Tampa
Raymond James Stadium - Home of the 2002 NFL Champions Tampa Bay Bucs and Super Bowl 43
Tampa Bay Blvd. Elementary School - Built in 1926 to educate cigar workers' children
West Tampa Little League Ball Park - Home of the 1970 Senior Little League World Champs
West Tampa History - The cigar that sparked a revolution, and Fernando Figueredo, West Tampa's first mayor.

 

 

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