A Saturday afternoon commercial fire in Jacksonville’s Pine Forest neighborhood damaged a business, scorched a neighboring home and forced at least one resident to evacuate, according to city fire officials. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department crews moved in fast and boxed in the flames before they could spread to other properties. No injuries were reported.
As reported by Action News Jax, JFRD said firefighters worked to get the commercial blaze under control and kept flames from jumping to nearby structures. The outlet reports that one resident was displaced and is receiving help from the American Red Cross, and officials have not yet released the cause of the fire.
Department response and city warnings
Jacksonville officials have been warning for weeks that historic drought and dry fuels are driving up fire danger across Duval County, and the city enacted a burn ban in April to clamp down on outdoor burning. In its announcement, the City of Jacksonville quoted Fire Chief Percy Golden II saying, "JFRD is ready," and directed residents to JaxReady for ongoing safety updates.
Another in a string of commercial blazes
This Pine Forest fire is the latest in a series of commercial and industrial blazes JFRD has tackled across the city, including a large recycling-plant fire in February. Wind and bone-dry conditions have helped some of those fires spread quickly, according to the department. Action News Jax covered the earlier Smurfit Westrock blaze and noted JFRD figures on commercial building fires so far this year.
Assistance and resources
The American Red Cross Northeast Florida chapter offers help to residents displaced by house and commercial fires, listing local contact information and a 24-hour disaster line. The site also directs people to call 1-800-RED-CROSS for immediate assistance.
Fire investigators will review the scene to determine what sparked the Pine Forest blaze, and JFRD along with city officials say they will post updates through official channels as they learn more. Residents can sign up for emergency alerts and wildfire information at JaxReady to get real-time notifications and safety guidance.
