This year’s observance carries special significance for JFRD. Engineer Jason C. Woodruff, honored at Station 19, and Engineer Ian M. Church, honored at Station 60, will both be formally added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Wall during National Memorial Weekend in Emmitsburg, Maryland, on May 3. They will be among 204 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2025, whose names will be added this year.
“Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters is a powerful way to pay tribute to the brave men who made the ultimate sacrifice for our city,” said Mayor Donna Deegan. “We will be forever grateful for Engineer Woodruff and Engineer Church, who gave their lives in service to our community. As their names are added to the national memorial, we ask every Jacksonville resident to honor their legacy today and for many years to come.”
Several local buildings and monuments will also be illuminated in support. These include the Baptist Medical Center Weaver Tower, Daily’s Place, Friendship Fountain, HCA Memorial Jacksonville, HCA Memorial Orange Park, UF Health Jacksonville, and the VyStar Forsyth location.
The annual Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters campaign, led by the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (NFFF), invites communities in all 50 states to join in remembrance by lighting homes, businesses, landmarks, and fire stations red in honor of firefighters who gave their lives in the line of duty.
“The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is proud to participate in Light the Night for Fallen Firefighters,” said Fire Chief Percy Golden II. “We are lighting our headquarters, our Fallen Firefighter Memorial, and our stations in honor of all those who made the ultimate sacrifice, with special recognition this year for Engineer Woodruff and Engineer Church. They will never be forgotten, and we invite the entire Jacksonville community to join us in honoring their legacy.”
How Jacksonville Can Participate
Residents and businesses across Jacksonville are encouraged to take part by displaying red lights at homes or workplaces, sharing photos on social media using #NFFFLightTheNight2026, or emailing photos to photos@firehero.org. Participants may also register their participation with the NFFF at firehero.org.
On Sunday, May 3, all federal buildings, including the White House and the U.S. Capitol, will lower the American flag in honor of fallen firefighters.
For the families of Engineer Woodruff, Engineer Church, and all firefighters who have passed in the ultimate act of service, a red light on a front porch, business, or fire station means their loved one is still remembered. JFRD invites every Jacksonville resident to be a part of that.
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Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department to Glow Red Honoring Fallen Firefighters Ahead of National Memorial Weekend
April 30, 2026
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department will illuminate its main headquarters, the JFRD Fallen Firefighter Memorial, Station 1, Station 19, and Station 60 in red from April 26 through May 3 as part of a national tribute to firefighters who have died in the line of duty.