MyJFRD - History

1850

Jacksonville’s first efforts at firefighting involved a series of water wells dug at the intersections of Washington and Forsyth streets, Forsyth and Newnan streets, and Newnan and Adams Streets. The alarm system was a belltower near each well. If somebody noticed smoke or spotted a fire, the individual would ring the bell to alert the male population to form the “Bucket Brigade” and fetch water from the well system to fight the fire. A shed adjacent to each well served as storage for the buckets. If the fire was close enough to the river, the brigade extended to the St. Johns. If a burning structure was too involved, the brigade would focus on prevention by soaking nearby structures.

Jacksonville’s first efforts at firefighting involved a series of water wells dug at the intersections of Washington and Forsyth streets, Forsyth and Newnan streets, and Newnan and Adams Streets. The alarm system was a belltower near each well. If somebody noticed smoke or spotted a fire, the individual would ring the bell to alert the male population to form the “Bucket Brigade” and fetch water from the well system to fight the fire. A shed adjacent to each well served as storage for the buckets. If the fire was close enough to the river, the brigade extended to the St. Johns. If a burning structure was too involved, the brigade would focus on prevention by soaking nearby structures.

1852

The first fire apparatus arrived in Jacksonville: a wheeled hand pumper operated by long handles on each side.

Apr. 5 1854

Jacksonville’s emerging downtown on the riverfront had its first major fire. Its origin was a spark from the smokestack of a docking paddle boat. The spark landed in a hay shed and ignited a blaze that destroyed 70 buildings in Jacksonville’s business district. The town’s hand-pumped fire apparatus also succumbed to the fire.

Jacksonville’s emerging downtown on the riverfront had its first major fire. Its origin was a spark from the smokestack of a docking paddle boat. The spark landed in a hay shed and ignited a blaze that destroyed 70 buildings in Jacksonville’s business district. The town’s hand-pumped fire apparatus also succumbed to the fire.

Nov. 15 1856

Jacksonville’s second major fire also ignited along the city’s busy waterfront district. Despite a very diligent effort by the bucket brigade, many of the new structures rebuilt after the fire of 1854 were destroyed in this fire.

Jan. 10 1868

The first volunteer fire company formed – the Friendship Hook and Ladder Company.

The first volunteer fire company formed – the Friendship Hook and Ladder Company.

Feb 3. 1870

The Mechanics Steam Fire Engine Company formed, and their modern pumper could throw water 200 feet at 250 gallons per minute. This addressed some of the challenges of fighting fire in taller buildings which were a trend in construction. (Pictured is an example of a Steam Fire Engine)

Apr. 26 1881

The city installed 92 fire hydrants with water mains and a water works capable of pumping water under pressure to strategic mains for firefighting purposes. The city’s first fire alarm telegraph system consisted of 15 alarm boxes and eight bells strung together by 6 miles of wire that were powered by a 40-cell battery. (Pictured is an example of a fire alarm telegraph system)

The city installed 92 fire hydrants with water mains and a water works capable of pumping water under pressure to strategic mains for firefighting purposes. The city’s first fire alarm telegraph system consisted of 15 alarm boxes and eight bells strung together by 6 miles of wire that were powered by a 40-cell battery. (Pictured is an example of a fire alarm telegraph system)

Dec. 16 1885

Henry Bradley became the first Jacksonville firefighter to die in the line of duty when a flaming wall collapsed onto him at a commercial fire on Bay Street.

Jul 15. 1886

Jacksonville Fire Department became a fully paid professional department comprised of 17 men and three companies. Three of the 17 men were African American and worked out of station #3. Peter Jones was named the first Fire Chief. Initial funding for the department was $15,000 and four banks advanced $10,000 dollars to get the department up and running. All fireman worked 6 days a week, had three hours off for meals each day, seven days of vacation annually, and were responsible for buying his own uniforms and bunker gear.

Jacksonville Fire Department became a fully paid professional department comprised of 17 men and three companies. Three of the 17 men were African American and worked out of station #3. Peter Jones was named the first Fire Chief. Initial funding for the department was $15,000 and four banks advanced $10,000 dollars to get the department up and running. All fireman worked 6 days a week, had three hours off for meals each day, seven days of vacation annually, and were responsible for buying his own uniforms and bunker gear.

May. 3 1901

Map of areas burned down during the great fire of 1901

"The Great Fire of 1901” started at 12:30 p.m. when a cinder from a nearby chimney landed on moss and fiber drying in the sun at the Cleaveland Fiber Factory at Union and Davis streets. Strong westerly winds fanned the flames, and the fire and destruction did not stop until it reached what is now known as the St. Johns River.

By the time it was over, the fire had destroyed 146 city blocks and 2,368 buildings including three of the city’s five fire stations. Property damage totaled $15 million.

1912

The fire department places its first new motorized apparatus into service which included two engines and a 65’ ladder truck.

Firefighters around a motorized apparatus

The fire department places its first new motorized apparatus into service which included two engines and a 65’ ladder truck.

Sep. 14 1922

The Fireboat John B. Callahan is officially accepted by the city. It is named after a councilman who fought a losing battle for a fireboat in 1914. The boat is a converted sub-chaser used in World War I. The Callahan cost $100 and was in service for 41 years, making her purchase price one of the best deals in the history of Jacksonville government.

1945

Two resuscitators and two portable Iron Lungs are now being carried on a Chiefs’ cars 1 and 4. The Iron Lungs were purchased and given to the fire department by the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union 234. (Pictured is an example of an iron lung)

Two resuscitators and two portable Iron Lungs are now being carried on a Chiefs’ cars 1 and 4. The Iron Lungs were purchased and given to the fire department by the Plumbers and Steamfitters Union 234. (Pictured is an example of an iron lung)

Apr. 30 1951

The city's new fire boat, "Richard D. Sutton," was placed into service.

1962

In 1962, Jacksonville Fire Department Asst. Fire Chief James Dowling, Jr., began a push to end the practice of funeral homes using hearses to provide ambulance service to the city. He argued that the funeral homes were more concerned with having funerals than with providing transportation of the sick and injured to the hospital.

In 1962, Jacksonville Fire Department Asst. Fire Chief James Dowling, Jr., began a push to end the practice of funeral homes using hearses to provide ambulance service to the city. He argued that the funeral homes were more concerned with having funerals than with providing transportation of the sick and injured to the hospital.

Nov. 19 1967

Mayor Hans Tanzler placed Emergency Ambulance Service permanently in the care of the Jacksonville Fire Department after private operators refused to continue the service. The era of Jacksonville Fire and Rescue was born. The first units were the station wagons assigned to the riding Chiefs. First aid supplies, oxygen, stretchers, and one additional Firefighter comprised each specialty team. The fire department’s rescue service only transport in emergency cases. 1967, they answered 717 calls.

Jan. 13 1977

Jacksonville formed the world’s first municipal hazardous materials team. The endeavor was a response to the increasing numbers of chemical leaks, spills, accidents, and fires in and around Jacksonville. JFRD Captain Ron Gore spearheaded the group’s formation. The original team consisted of 15 members and has increased to roughly 75 members as of 2022.

Jacksonville formed the world’s first municipal hazardous materials team. The endeavor was a response to the increasing numbers of chemical leaks, spills, accidents, and fires in and around Jacksonville. JFRD Captain Ron Gore spearheaded the group’s formation. The original team consisted of 15 members and has increased to roughly 75 members as of 2022.

Oct. 3 1982

The Jacksonville Fire Museum opened in the old station #3

Sept 1992

The JFRD sends personnel and equipment to assist Firefighters in south Florida for Hurricane Andrew. The major hurricane hit the southern Florida peninsula with violent winds at 141 miles per hour and storm surges as high as 17 feet in some areas. More than 250,000 people were left homeless. (Pictured is a satellite image of Hurrican Andrew)

The JFRD sends personnel and equipment to assist Firefighters in south Florida for Hurricane Andrew. The major hurricane hit the southern Florida peninsula with violent winds at 141 miles per hour and storm surges as high as 17 feet in some areas. More than 250,000 people were left homeless. (Pictured is a satellite image of Hurrican Andrew)

1994

JFRD’s emblem is redesigned to replace the old lime yellow color with gold, and change the Maltese cross to red, and add the star of life.

1998

The 1998 Florida wildfires, sometimes referred to as the Florida Firestorm, was a wildland fire event involving several thousand separate woodland and mixed urban-rural wildfires which wrought severe damage from May to July. Extreme drought conditions were the most direct contributing factor. By mid-July, with most fires under control, more than 2,000 individual wildfires had burned in Florida, destroying nearly 500,000 acres, 150 structures, and 86 vehicles. The response to the fires was unprecedented at the time, involving local, state, and federal resources and as many as 10,000 firefighters from across the United States.

1999

The City of Atlantic Beach combines its firefighting resources with JFRD under a contractual agreement in which JFRD provides the staffing and Atlantic Beach provides the facility, which today is known as Fire Station 55. Also, the fire station at Cecil Field NAS becomes JFRD Fire Station 56 Following a naval base realignment.

Jan. 20 2021

Firehouse magazine’s latest National Run Survey ranks JFRD as the ninth busiest department in the country as a result of 155,501 runs in 2020. JFRD is also the second busiest department in Florida, according to the survey. In 2021, JFRD responded to just over 170,000 runs.

Firefighters using a hose to fight a fire

Firehouse magazine’s latest National Run Survey ranks JFRD as the ninth busiest department in the country as a result of 155,501 runs in 2020. JFRD is also the second busiest department in Florida, according to the survey. In 2021, JFRD responded to just over 170,000 runs.

Oct. 26 2021

JFRD opens Fire Station 63 on Gate Parkway.

History

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