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Each year, Fire Prevention personnel interact with more than 20,000 local businesses and places of assembly, including schools, churches, and other public facilities, to ensure fire safety and compliance with fire codes. The division also reviews commercial plans for new construction so facilities meet fire codes that protect occupants and support first responders with features such as points of access and adequate water supply connections. These fire inspections are authorized by state laws adopted by the City of Jacksonville and enforced by the Fire Marshal’s Office.
In addition to commercial inspections, the division conducts food truck inspections to ensure mobile vendors operate safely within the community. Fire Prevention also manages the Mayor’s Home Fire Safety Program, which provides free smoke detectors to qualifying Jacksonville residents living in single-family or two-family homes. Residents can call 630-CITY (2489) for more information.
Public education and outreach are key responsibilities of Fire Prevention. Education programs are provided for schools, day care centers, assisted living facilities, industrial sites, apartment communities, and businesses. Training opportunities include emergency evacuation procedures, fire extinguisher use, and other customized programs designed to improve safety awareness. The division also hosts an annual Fire Prevention Week event each October for local schools and continues to partner with community groups to expand fire safety awareness throughout Jacksonville.
Fire Prevention Division
The Fire Prevention Division conducts safety inspections on commercial properties, issues fire permits, reviews building plans, and delivers a wide range of fire safety education programs. Preventing fires is just as important as fighting them, and at the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, that philosophy is central to the mission of the Fire Prevention Division. The division is led by Division Chief Allen Mason, who also serves as Jacksonville’s Fire Marshal.Each year, Fire Prevention personnel interact with more than 20,000 local businesses and places of assembly, including schools, churches, and other public facilities, to ensure fire safety and compliance with fire codes. The division also reviews commercial plans for new construction so facilities meet fire codes that protect occupants and support first responders with features such as points of access and adequate water supply connections. These fire inspections are authorized by state laws adopted by the City of Jacksonville and enforced by the Fire Marshal’s Office.
In addition to commercial inspections, the division conducts food truck inspections to ensure mobile vendors operate safely within the community. Fire Prevention also manages the Mayor’s Home Fire Safety Program, which provides free smoke detectors to qualifying Jacksonville residents living in single-family or two-family homes. Residents can call 630-CITY (2489) for more information.
Public education and outreach are key responsibilities of Fire Prevention. Education programs are provided for schools, day care centers, assisted living facilities, industrial sites, apartment communities, and businesses. Training opportunities include emergency evacuation procedures, fire extinguisher use, and other customized programs designed to improve safety awareness. The division also hosts an annual Fire Prevention Week event each October for local schools and continues to partner with community groups to expand fire safety awareness throughout Jacksonville.