Population in Hillsborough county is growing - according to fire rescue officials, nearly 120,000 people have moved to the area over the last 10 years. In that same time frame - the department hasn't built a new fire station.
Officials say with the influx of people comes more calls for service. The county has seen a 32.9% increase in call volume.
County Commissioners are scheduled to review Hillsborough County Fire Rescue 2017-2040 Fire Rescue Master Plan during a budget workshop meeting Wednesday afternoon. The HCFR is setting a goal to request response to every call it receives within a 90 second window. Right now, that goal is being met about 50 percent of the time.
Officials say currently, staffing doesn't meet the compliance standards the National Fire Protection Association recommends. Those standards are recognized nationally, but are not legally binding.
Over the next 25 years, the HCFR hopes to add 25 new fire stations as well as 25 engines, 17 rescue trucks, 5 ladder trucks, 4 battalion chiefs, 5 water tankers and 4 brush trucks. The total cost would be more than $249 million dollars and fire rescue officials hope to have that paid off over the next 13 years.
