Tampa Firefighters Train with Waymo as Driverless Cars Roll Out

Local fire departments prepare for autonomous vehicle emergencies in the Tampa Bay area.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Waymo, the autonomous driving company owned by Google, has begun testing its all-electric robotaxis in the Tampa, Florida area. While the company has not announced an exact launch date, local fire departments are getting ahead of the curve by training with Waymo on the vehicles' key features, safety systems, and operational details to ensure they can respond effectively to any emergencies involving the driverless cars.

Why it matters

The introduction of driverless vehicles in Tampa raises new challenges for first responders, who need to understand how to safely interact with and handle autonomous cars during emergencies. This training aims to help fire departments adapt to the changing transportation landscape and ensure public safety as self-driving technology becomes more prevalent.

The details

Tampa Fire Rescue and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue recently met with Waymo representatives to learn about the robotaxis' features and operations. The training is part of an ongoing effort by the fire departments to prepare for the arrival of driverless cars in the Tampa Bay area. Meanwhile, a proposed Florida bill, SB 1616, could limit the liability of autonomous vehicle manufacturers, which some experts say amounts to 'blanket immunity'.

  • Waymo began testing its all-electric robotaxis in the Tampa area in December 2025.
  • Tampa Fire Rescue and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue met with Waymo on Wednesday to receive training on the autonomous vehicles.

The players

Waymo

A driverless and autonomous car company that offers rideshare services, and is a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company.

Tampa Fire Rescue

The fire department serving the city of Tampa, Florida.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue

The fire department serving Hillsborough County, Florida, which includes the city of Tampa.

Chris Castillo

A personal injury attorney who commented on the proposed Florida bill, SB 1616, which could limit the liability of autonomous vehicle manufacturers.

SB 1616

A proposed Florida bill that could limit the liability of autonomous vehicle manufacturers, according to the personal injury attorney.

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What they’re saying

“The technology is incredible. Change is inevitable. So we will see what comes of it and we will try and keep up with it.”

— Chris Castillo, Personal Injury Attorney (WFLA)

“It limits the liability of the manufacturer and provides very narrow exceptions, which in my opinion, is tantamount to blanket immunity.”

— Chris Castillo, Personal Injury Attorney (WFLA)

What’s next

Tampa Fire Rescue said they plan on continuing the training work with Waymo throughout the next few months, with more interactive work scheduled to understand the robotaxis and how they operate.

The takeaway

As driverless vehicles become more prevalent, first responders must adapt to new challenges and technologies to ensure public safety. The training between Tampa's fire departments and Waymo demonstrates the importance of proactive collaboration between autonomous vehicle companies and local emergency services to prepare for the future of transportation.