Construction Begins On Large Apollo Beach Fire Station

APOLLO BEACH, FL — Hillsborough County broke ground on a new Fire Station 29 in Apollo Beach Thursday morning, replacing a much smaller, outdated fire station down the street, a news release said.

The 10,000-square-foot replacement station, 6720 North U.S. Highway 41, will help serve the communities of Apollo Beach, Mira Bay, Waterset and Adamsville. Crews will have quick access to U.S. 41, which will possibly improve response times.

Once it is complete, there will be a three drive-through apparatus bay for a fire engine, an ALS rescue truck and a tanker truck capable of delivering 3,000 gallons of water directly to a fire location. The station will be home to a battalion chief’s vehicle and 21 or more firefighters/paramedics working three 24-hour shifts.

In addition to firefighters, Station 29 is the home of Hillsborough’s marine rescue crew.

The station also includes the latest in architectural safety measures such as laundry and showers between the apparatus bays and the main part of the station so that firefighters can decontaminate before entering the station’s living quarters, officials said. Eliminating carcinogens is critically important in keeping firefighters healthy from cancer-causing smoke common in modern fires.

Officials did not give a tentative completion date.