JFRD's 'Before the Sirens' Campaign for Fire Prevention Week

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) has launched Fire Prevention Week, observed Oct. 4-10, with its “Before the Sirens” campaign. The initiative educates residents on proactive steps to enhance home fire safety and prevent emergencies.

Mayor Donna Deegan proclaimed the week as Fire Prevention Week in Jacksonville, encouraging all residents to prioritize fire safety learning and practice. The city invites families to JFRD’s 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 sharing safety information throughout the week, including the importance of visible address numbers for quick emergency response, smoke alarm and fire extinguisher basics, and safe charging practices for electronic devices with lithium-ion batteries. A JFRD firefighter will also share a personal story about burn injuries and what families should know, and residents can ask firefighters direct questions.

The campaign concludes Saturday, Oct. 10, with a free community safety event hosted by JFRD and the City of Jacksonville Neighborhoods Department. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lonnie C. Miller Sr. Regional Park. Families can meet firefighters, see live demonstrations, win prizes and practice fire safety skills.

“All week, we’re bringing fire safety to you,” Director/Fire Chief Golden stated. “On Saturday, we’re inviting Jacksonville to come to us.”

Residents can improve home safety by installing smoke alarms on every level and outside sleeping areas, testing them monthly. They should also create and practice a home escape plan with at least two ways out of every room, charge devices on hard surfaces using the correct charger and unplugging them when full, and ensure house numbers are clearly visible from the street, day and night.