PARRISH — A third fire station for the growing Buckeye Road and U.S. 301 North corridor is in the works to address what the fire district calls a “transformative era of growth” and a desire to improve services from “reactive response” to “proactive readiness.”
Parrish Fire District Chief Stacey Bailey said that half his calls already come from the area, which is expected to have 10,000 more homes by 2030, according to a feasibility and impact study done by the district.
The study says that the new station will keep the fire district in line with industrywide response standards. Guidelines show that “reducing fire station spacing from 5 miles to 3.5 miles can cut travel time by up to 35%, significantly improving response capabilities in high-density areas,” according to the study.
The Legislature did not approve state appropriations for the station this year, Bailey said, adding that the request will be renewed. Fire district funds and developer-paid impact fees also would support the new station, he said.
The study estimates $6 million to $10 million in capital costs for land acquisition and station construction, with apparatus exceeding $750,000, $1.5 million to $2 million in staffing costs annually and $500,000 in operating costs. The study calls for a minimum of 12 to 15 fulltime staff at the station, including firefighters, paramedics and supervisory personnel.
In addition to saving lives and property, a new station will save area homeowners money on insurance premiums, Bailey said.
“Right now, they’re in the worst class for insurance,” he said.
The Parrish and North River fire districts, Manatee County EMS and the Hillsborough County fire district near the Manatee/Hillsborough County line are working together to improve services, Bailey said.
With the third fire station, “It’s a system engineered for speed, resilience, and scalability; where every mile, minute, and mutual aid agreement contributes to a safer, stronger community,” according to the study.
The new station would be modeled on Station 2 at 3804 North Rye Road, Bailey said.
At about 3.5 miles from the nearest North River Fire District station and about 3.5 miles from the nearest Hillsborough County Fire District station, the new Parrish station would achieve optimal coverage under industry standards, according to the study.
“The result is a tri-station configuration that forms a continuous, data-driven response network across jurisdictional boundaries; ensuring faster response times, improved resource availability, and enhanced operational flexibility,” according to the study. “Aligned with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1710 recommendations, which advocate for a 4-minute travel time for the first arriving engine company and an 8-minute full alarm response for structure fires, this configuration significantly boosts compliance potential. In real terms, reducing station separation to less than 5 miles can shave critical minutes of response times — minutes that often mean the difference between containment and escalation, life and loss. When seconds count, this collaborative footprint ensures that help is not just on the way — it’s already nearby.”
Cindy Lane is a staff writer for the Tampa Bay Beacons. She can be reached at clane@tbnweekly.com.