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Hot diggity digs
By SUSAN THURSTON CROSS CREEK -- Firefighter Mark Wengyn knew something was wrong the moment he saw it. Then it hit him like a falling beam in a burning house. Old Glory was hanging in the wrong direction. The stars appeared on the right, not the left. He couldn't have that, not in a fire station. So he and colleague Frank Coto lowered the flag, turned it around and hoisted it back to its rightful spot. "Ahhh," he said. "Much better." Such is the work -- some of it mundane -- of firefighters assigned to Station 21 in New Tampa, the city's first new firehouse in 13 years. Whether it's displaying a flag respectfully or treating a patient in cardiac arrest, they do it by the book. One mistake can make a big difference. Wengyn is among 15 firefighters, all male, based out of the new station on Green Pine Lane along Cross Creek Boulevard. Three crews of four rotate 24-hour shifts, working one day on and two days off. A fifth crew member goes to stations that need people to cover vacations and illnesses. In all, the firefighters work about nine days a month, or about 48 hours a week. In between, they have secondary jobs, doing everything from landscaping to drilling wells. The firefighters moved into the facility Nov. 16, but started taking calls out of Station 20 down the road in Tampa Palms several weeks ago. Settling into the station has been like moving into a new house with a whole new family. There's shopping to do and details to learn, such as who cooks, who cleans and who snores. "We're still trying to figure out which switch goes to which light," Coto said. The station couldn't have opened at a more popular time for firefighters. Everywhere they go, either to Wal-Mart for groceries or to Home Depot for key rings, firefighters get a high-five, a handshake or, simply, a nod of thanks. "We're more appreciated now," said Capt. Ron Pinner, the leader of his crew. "We're still doing the same job, but people are more thoughtful." The 'Cadillac of stations'The city built Station 21 on about 3 acres donated by the developer of Hunter's Green. The three-bay, $1.4-million building has all the amenities of modern stations, including semiprivate sleeping quarters and a restaurant-style kitchen with three refrigerators -- one for each crew. About the only things missing are a Dalmatian (pets aren't allowed) and a fire pole (it's only one story). Planners went the extra mile to make the 9,200-square-foot building blend with its surroundings. The sloped green roof and earth-tone walls give it a residential look rather than an industrial one. Firefighters proudly call it the "Cadillac of stations." Crews stationed there were selected from a long list of candidates, based on seniority. Most wanted a change of pace from busy, urban stations. "When you're young you want to run, run, run," said Wengyn, 39, a firefighter for nearly 17 years. "As you get older, if you get a call, you do your job and if it doesn't come in, it means everyone is okay." Station 21 was built to reduce response times, not a high volume of calls in New Tampa. Sister Station 20 on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard had the longest response times in the city -- nearly eight minutes per call. Most stations average five minutes. The new station handles calls from Interstate 75 to County Line Road. Station 20 covers the interstate and everything to the south. Eventually, as homes are built, Station 21 will be the busier of the two. Since the new station opened, it has averaged two to four calls a day. Most have been medical calls or automatic fire alarms. A few have been unusual, such as the call about a toddler whose head was caught between the rungs of a rocking chair. "On any given day you can have eight or 10 runs, or one to two. It just depends," said fire Capt. Robert Bennett, who helps oversee area stations. "We're trying to be proactive, knowing the growth that's going to happen." When they aren't responding to calls, firefighters clean, cook, chat with visiting police officers and watch TV. They also give free blood pressure checks to whoever stops by. They bond like fraternity brothers. But when the bells rings, they're off. Automatic green lightThe station comes none too soon for many people in New Tampa, who argued that congestion on Bruce B. Downs warranted a second station. During rush hour, fire trucks often get stuck in traffic. To reduce travel time, the new station controls the traffic signals on Cross Creek at Green Pine Lane and Bruce B. Downs. With the push of a button, firefighters get the green light, much to the envy of motorists. The station has a paramedic engine and a brush fire truck for responding to calls. If a patient needs a hospital, firefighters call the ambulance at Station 20 or a helicopter. Firefighters say getting used to the station and its environs will take some time. Learning the streets around New Tampa isn't easy. They stop and start in different places, and don't follow a grid. Others are too new for maps. "Every time we drive, somewhere there's a new street or a new apartment complex," Coto said. Getting to know the community has proven easier. During the first week, students from nearby Hunter's Green Elementary School brought posters that said, "We love firefighters," and "Firefighters are our friends." On Thanksgiving, community groups brought turkey dinner. "People have been thoughtful," said Pinner, who came from a hectic station downtown. "It's nice to be up here where it's quiet for a while." - Susan Thurston can be reached at 226-3463 or thurston@sptimes.com.
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