Fire Station 22 in Pass-a-Grille, vacant since Hurricane Helene flooded it last September, is slated for demolition, according to St. Pete Beach Fire Chief Jim Kilpatrick.

“We’d already planned to tear it down,” Kilpatrick told Bay News 9. “The storm just sped up the timeline.”

Constructed in 1974, the station has faced mounting issues. A 2011 study found its roof substandard, and Kilpatrick noted additional problems: outdated overhead doors, leaking walls, and a generator prone to failure.

“When I joined the fire department in 2002, there was already talk of replacing it,” he said. “Every major disaster has cut us off from that station.”

Last year’s consecutive hurricanes, however, have opened a financial door.

“It’s a silver lining amid the chaos,” Kilpatrick said. “I don’t want to miss this chance to secure every possible dollar from outside the city.”

Building a new station is projected to cost $12 million. While the city commission greenlit the demolition in February, funding for a replacement remains unapproved.

Kilpatrick pointed to a $2 million grant previously obtained by State Representative Linda Chaney and expressed optimism about securing more.

“The community’s behind us—they want this station rebuilt,” he said. “It matters to the city and especially to Pass-a-Grille.”

For now, Fire Station 22’s crew operates from a temporary setup in a parking lot near the Don Cesar Resort. FEMA has funded the $57,000 monthly rental of a portable steel structure through February 28.

“It arrives like an envelope and unfolds into modules,” Kilpatrick explained. “There’s a kitchen unit, a bathroom unit, and bunk rooms—all separate.”

Currently, FEMA covers 75% of the cost, with the city footing the remaining 25%. Soon, they’ll transition to a double-wide trailer, slashing the monthly expense to $7,000.

“The charm of this temporary station has faded,” Kilpatrick admitted. “We’re aiming to make it more livable for the long haul.”

He estimates a new Fire Station 22 will take roughly two years to complete.

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(Image credit: Spectrum News/Josh Rojas)

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