Tips

• Never leave food on the stove unattended.
• For pan fires, keep an oven mitt and the lid nearby; if it is a small fire, slide the lid over the pan, leave the pan covered, and turn off the stove.
• Never pour water on burning grease.
• Never carry a burning pan of grease.
• Cool a burn. Run cool water over a burn for 10 to 15 minutes, but never apply ice, butter, or other greases to a burn. If burned skin blisters or is charred, see a doctor immediately.
• Remember: Stop, Drop, and Roll. If your clothes catch on fire, do not run. Stop where you are, drop to the ground, cover your face, and roll over and over to smother the flames.

National Burn Awareness Week

February includes National Burn Awareness Week. This year, the American Burn Association is focusing on Scald Injury Prevention which is a reminder that burns can occur not only from a fire but hot food, liquids, steam, and other heat sources and flammable materials. The Fire Department's Fire Prevention and Life Safety Services page has demonstration videos on cooking fire safety and turkey fryer fire dangers. The Shriner's Hospital for Children has information on their website for scald prevention. Please remember safety first when cooking and around other sources of heat and flammable materials.

Tip

Install a smoke alarm in every bedroom and the corridor leading to the bedroom. Check the alarm batteries monthly and change the batteries with each time change. Smoke alarms should be 3 feet from air vents and fans. Keep your smoke alarm clean and dust-free. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

Smoke Detector

Change your smoke detector batteries with the time change

We are committed to preventing fire deaths. In conjunction with the time change, the department will be helping citizens ensure they have working smoke alarms. You can call or email to schedule a check of your smoke alarm. When you change the time on the clock, it is time to change your smoke alarm batteries. While there were no fatalities in Jacksonville Beach this winter, there have been several fatalities in Duval County that may have been prevented with working smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms greatly reduce the likelihood of a residential fire fatality by providing occupants with early warning and giving them additional time to escape. Approximately 70% of home fire deaths were in homes with no smoke alarms, or where smoke alarms did not work.

Firefighters will be performing a neighborhood smoke alarm check from Shetter Avenue through 9th Avenue South and from 3rd Street to 11th Street South. Anyone else that would like their smoke alarms checked, or who is in need of a smoke alarm should call the Jacksonville Beach Fire Marshal's Office at 904-247-6239 or send an email to Steve Sciotto to schedule an appointment. Fire Department personnel will be conducting these checks in March each year.

Tip

Remember to thank your local volunteers for their time and dedication to our community.

National Volunteer Week

National Volunteer Week is Recognized in April. As part of National Volunteer Week, we would like to thank our Auxiliary Members for their time and dedication to the Fire Department and residents of Jacksonville Beach.

Arson Prevention

Home crime prevention tips are also helpful for arson prevention. These include: illuminating the exterior of your home including the entrances; clearing obstructions around your home such as shrubbery; installing smoke alarms and possibly fire sprinkler systems; keep your doors and windows locked; and keep your yard clear of items that could attract arsonists such as piles of leaves, cans of paint or gasoline, and anything that could be flammable.

Be prepared before disaster strikes by having an evacuation plan and disaster kits prepared.

Arson Awareness Week

The theme for this year's Arson Awareness Week is reducing residential arson. Arson is a costly crime that can lead not only to property damage but also to fatalities. The IAAI has valuable information including Protecting Homes Against Arson (PDF).

National Hurricane Preparedness Week is the Last Week in May

Living in Florida, hurricanes are a natural disasters for which we need to be prepared. Hurricane season runs from June 1st through November 30th, though storms can occur outside of this timeframe. The Jacksonville Beach Fire Department wants you and your family to be safe and prepared this hurricane season. Please visit the Disaster Services section of the Fire Department's website for information on disaster preparation kit information, evacuation and re-entry, emergency contact phone numbers, hurricane and storm information, the Medical Support Notification Program, and Special Medical Needs. You can also visit NOAA's website for a comprehensive overview and FEMA's website for their Pledge to Prepare Campaign.

Tips

• Learn CPR it could be the information you need to save someone's life one day.
• When lightning is present, stay indoors; stay off corded phones and other electronic devices; stay away from windows and doors; and stay away from sources of water including faucets, tubs, and showers.

National CPR and AED Awareness Week is the First Week in June

Bystander CPR has saved lives in Jacksonville Beach. The Fire Department's Fire Prevention and Life Safety Services page has information on Hands-Only CPR Procedures. If you are interested in learning CPR, the Jacksonville Beach Fire Department has members that are certified in CPR Instruction. 

Lightning Safety Awareness Week is the Last Week in June

Lightning is a dangerous weather event that can start fires, short out electronics, severely burn people and possibly lead to fatalities. The NOAA website has information including important safety tips. As of the time, this was written, two of the seven lightning deaths in the U.S. were in Florida. Please be safe.

National Fireworks Safety Month

The safest way to enjoy fireworks is to view a public display put on by professionals. Be aware of the dangers of fireworks. if you do use them, use only the legal fireworks and ensure all possible safety measures are taken including: lighting only one at a time, never letting children light fireworks or participate in horseplay around them, be sure to light them outside and away from any flammable materials including yards and homes, and keep water nearby.

Please see our Fireworks page for information on which fireworks are legal and for links to fireworks safety. Fines up to $500 may be issued for the use of illegal fireworks. If you use fireworks, use only the legal fireworks and be safe.

• Firework Safety (PDF)

Tips

• Our pets are a part of our family and it is our responsibility to keep them safe. Remember to include your pets in your safety plans.
• For your Disaster Preparedness plan for your pet, remember to include a supply of all medications that they take and plan ahead on how to prepare for the medications that need to be refrigerated if power is lost.

Pet Fire & Disaster Safety Awareness

When emergencies happen, they can impact all the members of our families, including our pets. Please remember to include plans for your pets in your disaster preparedness kits, fire escape plans, and storm/evacuation plans. Our Disaster Preparation Kits page includes links for Your Pet's First Aid Kit, Making a Disaster Plan for Your Pets, and Disaster Preparedness for your pets.

Child Safety Seat

Ensure your child's safety seat is installed correctly. Stop by Jacksonville Beach Fire Station 2 located at 2500 South Beach Parkway on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of every month from 8 am to 10 am for a child safety seat inspection. The inspections are performed by members of our department who have had training and are certified in child safety seat installations. Inspections are free and an appointment is not needed.

National Child Passenger Safety Week

It is important to protect our children. Make sure your child is in the correct safety seat for their age and weight; know the history of the seat and replace it if it has ever been in an accident or is over six years old; be sure to register your child's safety seat in the event that there is a recall; and wear your seatbelt because studies show that when adults are buckled up, kids are buckled up. Visit our Fire Prevention and Life Safety Services page for Child Passenger Seat Inspection information where you can also find links to Proper Use and Installation of Child Safety Seats and Questions about Car Safety Seat Installation.

Tips

• Kitchens are the number one location of fires in homes. Do not leave your food unattended while it is cooking, do not put anything flammable directly on a stovetop, keep oven mitts and lids nearby, do not put water on a grease fire, do not carry a pan of burning grease, and be cautious when using kitchen torches.
• Check your smoke alarm. A smoke alarm should be installed on every level of your home and in the corridor leading to bedrooms. Remember to check the alarm monthly and change the batteries with each time change. Smoke alarms should be positioned away from air vents and fans and keep them clean and dust free. Smoke alarms should be replaced every 10 years.

National Fire Prevention Week

Fire Prevention Week begins the first full week in October. Individuals are encouraged to check their smoke detectors, review home and work escape plans, and ensure fire extinguishers are accessible and ready for use. The theme of this year's Fire Prevention Week is lowering the risk of kitchen fires. Please visit our Fire Prevention and Life Safety Services page for a link to a cooking fire safety video. Residents wanting a courtesy home fire inspection or who are in need of a residential smoke detector can call the Fire Marshal's Office at 247-6239.

Test Your Smoke Alarms

When it is time to change the clock, it is also time to check your smoke alarms to ensure they are functioning properly. The Jacksonville Beach Fire Department will conduct annual neighborhood smoke alarm checks. However, any resident can call and request a check of their smoke alarm (904-247-6239). Please see our Residential Smoke Detector Program page for more information.

Home Fire Prevention Courtesy Inspection

Call the Fire Marshal's Office at 904-247-6239 to have a courtesy fire safety inspection performed at your home at no charge. These inspections are performed to aid occupants in recognizing and preventing fire hazards in their homes.

Tips

• Do not leave portable heaters unattended. If you leave the room, turn it off. Also, do not go to sleep while the portable heater is on.
• The holidays are a popular time for cooking. Be fire safety smart when in the kitchen. Please visit our Fire Prevention and Life Safety Services page for a link to a cooking fire safety video and a turkey fryer fire danger video.

Heater Safety

In these colder months, please use caution with space heaters, fireplaces, and candles. These seemingly small items can cause a large fire as evidenced by the picture to the right. Our Fire Prevention and Life Safety Services page has resources including Winter Fire Safety Tips from the U.S. Fire Administration/FEMA.

Cooking Safety

According to a State Farm press release, for the past 5 years, Florida has been ranked number 5 in the top 10 states for grease and cooking-related claims on Thanksgiving Day. The Jacksonville Beach Fire Department wants our residents to have a safe Thanksgiving. If you plan to fry a turkey, please do it outside on a safe surface away from your house or any other structure. Please see our Fire Prevention and Life Safety Services page for safety information including a turkey fryer fire danger video and a cooking fire safety video.

Tip

Do not burn candles in garland, wreaths or trees.

Christmas Decoration Safety

The Jacksonville Beach Fire Department wants our residents to have a safe and happy holiday season. If you have a cut tree, please make sure it is properly watered, your lights are in good working condition and turned on only when you are home and awake. Do not overload electrical outlets with lights and other decorations. The Fire Prevention and Life Safety Services page has resources including Christmas Tree Fire Safety with a video of the fire difference in a maintained/watered tree and a dry tree. Have a Happy and Safe Holiday from your Jacksonville Beach Fire Department.