JFRD Kicks off Fire Prevention Week with “Before the Sirens”
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) is marking Fire Prevention week, October 4th-10th, with “Before the Sirens”, a weeklong campaign focused on simple steps residents can take at home before an emergency happens.
Mayor Donna Deegan has proclaimed this week as Fire Prevention Week in the City of Jacksonville, and is urging residents to learn about fire prevention, practice fire safety habits at home, and join JFRD at its community event on Saturday.
“Last year, JFRD personnel responded to 940 structure fires in Duval County. Every one of those calls changed someone’s life in a matter of minutes,” said Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II. “The good news is that small habits make a big difference. Test your smoke alarms. Practice your escape plan. Make sure we can see your house number from the street. We want every resident to practice fire safety in their daily lives.”
JFRD is bringing local fire safety to the community all week. Topics include:
- Why visible address numbers help crews find you when seconds count
- Smoke alarm and fire extinguisher basics
- A JFRD firefighter’s story of being burned and what she wants families to know
- Safe charging habits for phones, e-bikes, scooters, and other devices with lithium-ion batteries
- Real questions answered by JFRD firefighters
On Saturday, October 10th, JFRD and the City of Jacksonville Neighborhoods Department will host a free community safety event from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 pm at Lonnie C. Miller Sr. Regional Park. Families can meet firefighters, see live demonstrations, win prizes, and practice fire safety skills hands-on.
“All week, we’re bringing fire safety to you,” said Director/Fire Chief Golden. “On Saturday, we’re inviting Jacksonville to come to us.”
Steps you can take today to stay safe:
- Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside each bedroom, and outside each sleeping area. Test them monthly.
- Make a home escape plan with two ways out of every room and practice it with everyone in your household.
- Charge devices on a hard surface, use the charger made for the device, and unplug it once it’s fully charged.
- Make sure your house number is easy to see from the street, day and night.
For event details and more fire safety information, visit MyJFRD.com and follow JFRD on social media.