Residents Invited to Discuss Fire Rescue Service Areas

Lithia, FL – Hillsborough County will host a community meeting to discuss a proposal to temporarily relocate a rescue vehicle that is currently placed Fire Station No. 2, located at 6726 Lithia Pinecrest Road in Lithia.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, July 14 at Pinecrest Elementary School, 7950 Lithia Pinecrest Road.

Hillsborough County is considering the plan in order to ensure that its Fire Rescue crews, vehicles and equipment are strategically positioned to best meet public safety needs based on call volume and population growth.

After studying data for the FishHawk Ranch, Lithia, Riverview and South Brandon areas, the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue department learned that:

• The Rescue 2 vehicle at Fire Station No. 2 responded to 892 alarms from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2016. Response for service by other nearby rescue units ranged from approximately 2,600 to 3,200 calls.
• Rescue 2 was originally positioned in anticipation of increased growth in the FishHawk Ranch area. The data show the highest number of calls – more than 75 percent – are from locations outside of FishHawk.
• Fire Station No. 16 in Riverview currently does not have a rescue vehicle. Engine 16 responded to 3,405 alarms in 2015, with many of those assisted by Rescue 2.

The proposed sixth-month pilot program would relocate Rescue 2 to the Riverview station. An Advanced Life Support fire engine, with crews who are trained and equipped to respond to critical medical calls, will remain at the Lithia Pinecrest Road Station. Rescue 2 or the closest rescue unit would still be dispatched as necessary to emergency calls in that service area.

County officials and Fire Rescue staff will attend the July 14 meeting to present information about the proposal and answer questions.

For more information about the meeting, call Citizen Engagement at (813) 272-5275.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, people needing special accommodations to participate and those seeking an interpreter should contact Hillsborough County’s Customer Service Center at (813) 272-5900 or TYY (813) 301-7173 no later than 48 hours prior to the meeting.

Image via Shutterstock

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