As the holiday season wraps its festive arms around the city, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) is stepping up to remind residents that the greatest gift anyone can give their loved ones is safety. Celebrations often come with increased fire hazards, and the JFRD has outlined a series of precautions designed to keep potential dangers at bay.
“The holidays bring joy, but they also bring increased fire risks,” Fire Chief Percy Golden II stated in a release. Highlighting the importance of vigilance, he shared that to quickly act can prevent tragedies and keep families safe. From the fire department's guidelines, it is evident that simple steps like watering Christmas trees daily and using proper candle holders are essential. These measures are more than just suggestions—they are lifelines to be grasped firmly, ensuring that the only fires are those safely burning in the hearth.
Cooking, often a central activity during holiday gatherings, poses its own risks. JFRD emphasizes never to leave cooking unattended and outlines a clear directive for grease fires: never use water—smother with a lid or a fire extinguisher. Given that outdoor fryers can quickly become hazards, keeping them at a safe distance from homes is another crucial step to safeguard against unforeseen danger.
As residents adorn their homes with cheerful lights, JFRD advises to always to remember to inspect light strands before use to prevent electrical mishaps. Implementing another preventive measure is to ensure that space heaters maintain a perimeter of clearance and never to forget to switch them off during sleep or absence from home. These precautions, seemingly mundane in their simplicity, are bulwarks against the night, holdfasts against the chaos of unwelcome flames.
The JFRD's certainly comes with the gravitas of experience. Serving more than a million residents with a cohort of 1,900 personnel, their expertise stems from responding to over 150,000 calls annually. With such a track record, the advice given carries the weight of lived and learned realities. As the department concludes its guidance by reinforcing the importance of calling 9-1-1 in emergencies, it becomes clear that their ultimate goal is to ensure that Jacksonville's festive spirit remains unmarred by preventable disasters.
