Look for a bold red and gold emblem with a proud eagle perched on top and a sailing ship at the center-this striking badge will help you spot the Tampa Fire Rescue Department.
Welcome to the Tampa Fire Rescue Department, guardian angels of the city in red! Imagine the year is 1884-you might hear the distant clang of buckets as seven makeshift “bucket brigades” dash down the cobblestone streets to douse a fiery blaze. Fast forward to 1895, when the city council decided enough with buckets-let’s upgrade to a team of paid professionals! Back in those days, every fire call meant hitching up horses to heavy carriages, but by 1914, the horsepower changed from hay-fed beasts to big, rumbling engines.
Time has only made the job wilder. Today, these firefighters wrangle everything from burning buildings to hazardous cargo at Port Tampa Bay-the busiest port for dangerous goods in Florida. At Tampa International Airport, they’re ready on the runways, and when there’s trouble at sea, their mighty fireboats and speedy inflatables splash out, engines revving, covering waters as far as Egmont Key. And with the roar of fans at Raymond James Stadium or millions passing through the airport, this department never sleeps. Even behind the scenes, the Fire Marshal is busy sniffing out mysteries, investigating fires, and keeping the city’s buildings safe. So tip your hat to these modern-day heroes-Tampa wouldn’t be the same without their courage and muscle!
