50 Stories for 50 Years: Hillsborough County Fire Rescue

Every day at all 46 fire stations across Hillsborough County, there are new stories of bravery, of service, and of sacrifice. This collection of 50 stories about HCFR’s dedicated professionals is only a snapshot of the amazing work done every day for the past 50 years.

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Hillsborough County firefighters training on extricator equipment.

About the Series: Hillsborough’s 50 for 50 Project Celebrates Fire Rescue Heroism, Heritage, History

September 18, 2023
In the 50 years since its founding, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue’s firefighters,...
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Retired Capt. William “Bill” Riley stands in front of a Valrico mural honoring the 2006 rescue.

50 for 50: Station 7 - Super Strength Saves Trapped Boy

August 17, 2023
Almost two decades have passed since retired Capt. William “Bill” Riley saved a young...
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ChampaBay’s Fire Truck in Thunder Alley outside Amalie Arena.

50 For 50: Station 9 - Champa Bay's Fire Truck

August 18, 2023
The pandemic that slowed the world down while sending fire rescue departments into overdrive was...
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Aerial footage of the hotel fire near Dale Mabry Highway and Waters Avenue in 2007.

50 for 50: Station 10 - Saving the Captain in the Stairwell

August 23, 2023
A hot Friday in June of 2007 tested Station 10 when an intense fire in an under-construction hotel...
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This photo was taken immediately after Capt. George and Firefighter Nieves got the resident out of the smoke-filled home on the night of Memorial Day, 2019.

50 for 50: Station 11 - A Rescue in 90 Seconds

September 20, 2023
Seconds count in fire rescue, and there's no more perfect example than the night of Memorial Day...
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Station 15 - HCFR Driver Engineer Giovanni Ciancio

50 for 50: Station 15 - The Biggest Funeral and the Smallest Funeral

August 18, 2023
Firefighters who give their lives in the line of duty to their community are afforded funerals with...
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Tyler Johns was assigned badge No. 2000 in 2023 only 50 years after badge No. 1 was assigned in 1973, a sign of massive growth.

50 For 50: Station 18 - Badge 2000

August 18, 2023
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue bestowed badge No. 2000 to rookie Tyler Johns in Spring of 2023, a...
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henry dorsey

50 for 50: Station 21 - Hillsborough’s Trailblazer

August 23, 2023
This previously published story about Henry Dorsey also is part of HCFR’s 50 for 50 project....
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The Firefighter was created by Harrison Covington and installed outside Station 28 in fall 2005.

50 For 50: Station 28 - Public art as a tribute

August 18, 2023
Many may not give it much thought, as the County’s fire stations all have fairly uniform...
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Station 46 opened in the summer of 2023 and is an example of the modern architecture of fire rescue designed to keep firefighters safe.

50 For 50: Station 46 - The Architecture of Crew Safety

August 23, 2023
“They shouldn’t let rookies work in a station like this,” quipped a Fire Rescue...
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