JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is celebrating a major milestone Thursday: 140 years of serving the community.
The city signed the ordinance creating its first paid fire department on July 15, 1886. Firefighters began serving Jacksonville the very next day.
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A department that has grown with the city
Over the past 140 years, the city has expanded significantly. The department now operates out of 71 stations, over 1,900 staff members and covers 885 square miles. Gear and training have also advanced considerably since the department’s early days.
But according to the fire department, the core mission has never changed — protect people and property.
Mayor Donna Deegan marked the occasion with a proclamation that she presented to Fire Chief Percy Golden at Fire Station 2, the oldest continuously operating fire station in the city.
She also praised the department’s legacy and its people.
“Since its founding in 1886, JFRD has grown alongside our city, adapting to meet the evolving needs of our growing community while remaining steadfast in its mission to safeguard lives, preserve property, and serve with courage and compassion,” Deegan said. “Thank you to the generations of firefighters, emergency medical responders, civilian employees, and families for their selfless dedication to our safety.”