St. Petersburg Fire Rescue to Build New Headquarters and Station 1 at Tropicana Field Site

St. Petersburg City Council approved a strategic plan last Thursday for a new Fire Rescue headquarters and Station 1 at the Tropicana Field site. This move addresses the city's rapid population growth and increasing demands on emergency services.

The 2026-2031 plan aims to accommodate an estimated 19,000 new residents who have moved to the city since 2010. The department now serves approximately 300,000 people across 70 square miles. Last year, the service area generated more than 67,000 requests for assistance.

Fire Rescue's current headquarters houses over 40 administrative employees. It also serves various functions, including fire inspection, community risk reduction, training, logistics, and operates as the Emergency Operations Center when needed. Deputy Fire Chief Brett Ciskoski noted the need to maintain existing facilities in addition to building new ones. Early planning is underway for stations in District 2.

Twenty community stakeholders participated in the planning process. They represented community groups, businesses, health care, and education. Keeping pace with growth emerged as their top concern. Participants also questioned equipment readiness for new downtown high-rises. Fire Chief Keith Watts is prioritizing readiness, officer development, and immediate operational improvements following the plan's unanimous approval.

St. Petersburg Fire Rescue currently employs 357 sworn emergency responders across 13 fixed facilities. Each shift includes a rescue captain and two rescue lieutenants who respond to complex medical calls and oversee patient care. Speed standards call for the first unit to reach 90% of priority structure fires within seven minutes. An advanced-life-support unit must reach 90% of priority medical calls within eight minutes and 30 seconds.

The city also sought proposals this summer for construction management services for a new fire training facility on 22nd Street South.