Brandon's New 'ChampaBay' Fire Truck Revealed At Raymond James

BRANDON, FL — Hillsborough County Fire Rescue's newest engine is hard to miss as it drives along the streets of Brandon displaying community pride for Tampa Bay Lightning, Buccaneers and Rays.

In honor of the championships the three teams won in 2021, the engine is called, ChampaBay's Fire Truck. It belongs to Brandon's station 9, one of the busiest in the county. It has a professionally wrapped design with logos from the teams.

The truck visited the Amalie Arena, Raymond James Stadium and Tropicana Field Friday. It was driven by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Dennis Jones.

Beaming with pride over the successes of Tampa Bay’s professional sports teams, HCFR’s ChampaBay fire truck was specially designed to recognize the accomplishments of the area’s professional sports champions while retaining the reflective colors and other visual safety features of a traditional fire truck, fire officials said.

The full length of the passenger’s side of the fire truck is dedicated to the Lightning. The full driver’s side honors the Buccaneers, while the front and back of the truck celebrates the Rays. The new truck was professionally wrapped by FastSigns Brandon and partially funded by HCFR partner, Ten-8 Fire & Safety and Pierce Manufacturing. The wrap cost HCFR less than $7,000, while the majority of the cost was carried by the partners.

ChampaBay fire truck is expected to be one of the most photographed fire engines in the nation, fire staff said. HCFR leadership hopes that the truck is a point of pride and morale boost for the more than 1,200 firefighters, paramedics, and other members who have worked hard for the past 18 months providing lifesaving services to the residents of Hillsborough County.