Flames tore through the roof of a vacant building at the former Weinberg Village Jewish community center in Tampa on Saturday, prompting a three-alarm response from Hillsborough County firefighters who brought the blaze under control within 90 minutes. No injuries to civilians or firefighters were reported, and crews remained on scene Saturday evening as operations continued.
The fire broke out at 13009 Community Campus Drive, according to FOX 13 Tampa Bay and IONTB. A bystander called 911 at around 4:17 p.m. to report smoke and flames coming from the building's roof, as reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue crews arrived within eight minutes of the call.
Response Escalated Twice as Crews Assessed the Building
Firefighters initially called a second alarm because of the building's size and its potential fire load, then upgraded the response to a third alarm as the situation developed, the station's report notes. Despite the scale of the response, crews managed to contain the fire and bring it under control within an hour and a half. The scene remained active into Saturday evening as firefighters continued operations at the site.
Facility staff told investigators that the building had been vacant for about one year, per the same account. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue did not provide a cause for the fire, according to IONTB.
A Campus With a Longer History Now Sitting Empty
The property has sat empty for roughly a year, but its connection to the community runs deeper. Weinberg Village describes itself as a Tampa assisted living and memory care community that was open to all faiths while representing Jewish traditions and values. The organization's website states that Weinberg Village permanently closed its doors on November 20, 2025.
No further details on the cause of the fire, the extent of any damage, or the building's ownership have been released. Firefighters' work at the scene continued as the evening wore on, with no additional updates provided on the investigation's next steps.
