The training took place April 14-16 at the Fire Academy of the South, also home to the JFRD Training Academy. It was organized by the Chlorine Institute, a national industry safety organization, in partnership with JFRD, the Northeast Florida Regional Council (NEFRC), and TRANSCAER, a program that connects chemical industry experts with local first responders to improve emergency preparedness. CSX provided railcar equipment and the Fire Academy of the South supplied additional training props for the hands-on field exercises. With approximately 150 participants overall, JFRD HazMat team members made up nearly half of the students in each session.
This was the latest in a series of annual trainings the NEFRC brings to the region through TRANSCAER, rotating through different chemical hazards each year. Past courses have covered anhydrous ammonia, liquefied natural gas, and compressed natural gas. This year, TRANSCAER brought in the Chlorine Institute to lead the chlorine-specific course.
Responders spent time in the classroom learning how chlorine behaves, how it moves through rail and industrial supply chains, what health effects exposure causes, and how to treat it. They also worked hands-on with equipment used in actual emergency response, including chlorine cylinders, chlorine tank car valves, flammable gas tank car valves, and chlorine ton containers. Field exercises simulated real incidents, including a chlorine leak from a railcar and a water treatment plant leak.
Chlorine is widely used in water treatment and industrial operations across Northeast Florida and is
routinely transported by rail through Jacksonville. Incidents involving chlorine require specialized training and equipment, and events like this one help ensure local responders are prepared. JFRD's HazMat teams train regularly to stay current on emerging hazards and response techniques. Events like this one, which bring together responders from multiple agencies, also help build the coordination and shared knowledge that matters when an actual incident occurs.
Several local officials took part in the hands-on training, including City Council members Jimmy Peluso, Rahman Johnson, and Chris Miller.
Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II said the training reflects JFRD’s commitment to being ready for the full range of hazards the department faces. “Our HazMat teams respond to some of the most complex and dangerous situations in emergency services. When an incident involves chlorine, there is no margin for error. This training gives our personnel the hands-on experience they need to walk into those situations with confidence to keep our community safe.”
Tyler Nolan from the Northeast Florida Regional Council said “Training like this ensures our Hazardous Materials Teams are ready to respond to complex, high-risk incidents. It strengthens regional coordination and helps guide critical investments in training to protect our communities.”
JFRD’s HazMat teams responded to more than 500 hazardous materials incidents in 2025.
Events like this one, which bring together responders from multiple agencies for shared learning,
allow them to walk away with experience they may one day use in an actual emergency.
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Jfrd Firefighters Train Alongside Regional Responders In Chlorine Emergency Response
April 16, 2026
This week, Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department
firefighters trained alongside emergency responders from across the region in a three-day course focused on responding to chlorine emergencies, including incidents involving rail cars and industrial facilities.