Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II addressed JFRD leadership, elected officials, union representatives, and Health and Wellness staff at the ceremony, reflecting on both the human cost of the profession and the progress JFRD has made in confronting it.
“Firefighters face extreme heat, toxic smoke, intense physical strain, and high-stress situations every single shift,” Chief Golden said. “For a long time, the consequences were just accepted as part of the job. We’re changing that.”
National standards, including NFPA 1582 and 1583, identify occupational health protection as essential to reducing firefighter injuries, illnesses, and line-of-duty deaths. Cancer and sudden cardiac death remain the leading causes of firefighter fatalities nationwide, with research consistently showing that firefighters are more likely to be diagnosed with, and die from, cancer than the general population.
Chief Golden noted that the threat is not abstract for JFRD. In the past year alone, the department added two names to its Fallen Firefighter Memorial Wall, both personnel who were actively serving when they contracted cancer and passed away.
“Between the smoke we breathe, the contaminants that stick to our gear and skin, and the physical and mental demands of the job, firefighters carry a lot over the course of a career,” Chief Golden said. “This building sends a powerful message that this department values the health, safety, and longevity of its members.”
JFRD launched its Health and Wellness initiative in October 2018, a shift the Chief described as moving away from an outdated culture that expected firefighters to accept health consequences and deal with them later. The program has since grown to include annual physical screenings, pulmonary function testing, cardiovascular stress testing, ultrasound screenings, blood work, blood pressure monitoring, vaccinations, and hearing and vision testing. All are designed to identify problems early and keep firefighters healthy and operationally ready.
The new facility will allow JFRD to centralize and expand these services, improve accessibility for members across the department’s 68 stations, and deliver care in a purpose-built environment for firefighters.
Chief Golden closed his remarks by acknowledging the collaboration that made the project possible, thanking Mayor Donna Deegan and her staff, the Jacksonville City Council, IAFF Local 122, Congressman Aaron Bean, who initiated the funding for the building, and the Health and Wellness team, including Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioners Captains Erika McManus, Brielle Barnhill, and retired program contributor Captain Gail McCormick.
“The JFRD Health and Wellness Center is about taking care of our own so that we can take care of others,” Chief Golden said. “That’s not only our slogan, it’s also our commitment.”
The new facility is expected to serve current and future generations of Jacksonville firefighters for decades to come.
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Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Breaks Ground on Health and Wellness Center
February 23, 2026
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department celebrated a major milestone today with the groundbreaking of our new Health and Wellness Center, marking a significant expansion of the department’s ongoing commitment to protecting the long-term health of our over 1,900 personnel.