Firefighters and station resources already deploying to calls across South County even as station awaits construction
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) activated the crew for new Fire Station 47 serving the region just north of Sun City Center in the fall of 2023.
About 25 new firefighters working three shifts already are being dispatched to calls in South County while waiting for their new fire station to be built on U.S. 301 South across the highway from Ayersworth Glen Drive.
Station 47 in service
The new station is equipped with a fire engine and a "rescue truck" or ambulance. Each apparatus and its crew will operate out of nearby fire stations until the new fire station is finished. The engine and its crew work from Station 17 in Ruskin and the rescue truck dispatches from Station 28 in Sun City Center.
The strategy of putting crew and apparatus into service before a new fire station is built is not a new one. Station 45 in central Brandon and Station 46 at Rhodine Road and U.S. 301 both had crews in service before the buildings were finished. In those cases, the strategy worked well, reducing response times in busy parts of Hillsborough County.
Activation helps busy south County
The new Fire Station 47 will help ease pressure on Station 28 in Sun City Center, the busiest fire station in the County, as well as the fast-growing population in the U.S. 301 South corridor.
Adding new fire stations in the rapidly growing areas of the county will reduce response times during emergencies.