Three-alarm fire erupts at Jewish Community Center

TAMPA, Fla. — October 18, 2026 — A massive fire tore through a vacant building at the Weinberg Village Jewish Community Center campus in Hillsborough County on Saturday afternoon, triggering a major emergency response involving nearly 80 firefighters and emergency personnel.

The blaze broke out on October 17 at 13009 Community Campus Drive in the Citrus Park area of Tampa.

According to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, emergency dispatchers received a 911 call at approximately 4:17 p.m. after a witness spotted smoke and flames coming from the building’s roof.

Firefighters arrived within eight minutes and discovered an active structure fire.

Because of the building’s size and the potential amount of combustible material inside, commanders quickly requested additional resources.

The incident was initially upgraded to a second alarm before escalating to a third alarm, bringing approximately 25 emergency units and nearly 80 personnel to the scene.

Firefighters worked from multiple positions to contain the flames and prevent the situation from worsening.

After an intense operation lasting approximately 90 minutes, crews brought the fire under control around 6 p.m.

Despite the scale of the blaze, authorities reported no injuries among firefighters or civilians.

The building had reportedly been vacant for approximately one year before the fire.

The Weinberg Village property has longstanding ties to Tampa’s Jewish community. The former senior living facility, which served residents of different faiths while maintaining Jewish traditions, permanently closed in November 2025.

The fire also created frightening moments for people nearby.

Tampa Bay 28 interviewed Jacob Germano, who said he was visiting his grandmother when he noticed a strong smell of smoke and heard people urging others to evacuate.

His account offered a glimpse of the confusion and concern surrounding the emergency.

Fire crews remained at the scene Saturday evening to continue operations and monitor conditions.

The cause of the fire has not been publicly determined.

Authorities have not announced evidence that the blaze was deliberately set, and there has been no official confirmation that the incident was motivated by religious hatred.

The extent of the structural damage has also not been fully disclosed.

For now, several important questions remain unanswered, including how the fire started and what investigators may discover as they examine the damaged building.

The incident drew significant attention because of the large emergency response and the property’s connection to the Jewish community.