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The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) provides fire protection and emergency medical services for Jacksonville, Florida, as well as all unincorporated areas of Duval County.

According to a list of the thirty largest fire departments in the United States, based on staff size, JFRD is number eighteen.

The 2012 National Fire Department Census, revealed that Florida has four hundred and seventy-seven registered fire departments. Duval County has the fifth largest fire department in the state based on the number of fire stations. JFRD is among the largest departments in the state and the nation. The department is made up of six division, fifty-eight fire and rescue locations, a professional career force of roughly thirteen-hundred diverse individuals, from all walks of life, and a number of teams, specially trained to handle any type of emergency call. All of which, provide around the clock emergency response services to an eight hundred and forty square mile territory within the City of Jacksonville and the unincorporated areas of Duval County.

Department's Mission and Vision Statements
Mission Statement: To minimize the loss of life and property resulting from fire, medical emergencies and other disasters through prevention, education, fire suppression, emergency medical service and emergency preparedness.This will be accomplished in the most cost-effective manner with maximum utilization of available resources, never sacrificing the safety of our members.

Vision Statement: To move into the next century providing the finest in fire and EMS services by operating from modern facilities, utilizing the most effective vehicles, tools and equipment, providing our highly trained firefighters with state-of-the-art gear/clothing and creating a work environment conducive to the highest standards of morale, safety and professionalism.

History
In Jacksonville's early days, citizens responded to fires by forming formed bucket brigades. In 1852, Jacksonville upgraded its firefighting apparatus with the acquisition of a hand pumper. The wheeled pumper had large handles on each side, which were pumped up and down in a seesaw manner to create hydraulic pressure. On April 5, 1854, the hand pumper was put to the test when a spark from the paddle steamer Florida ignited a fire at the docks along Bay Street between Ocean and Newnan. The pumper proved no match for the conflagration, which destroyed the pumper along with 70 buildings, devastating Jacksonville’s business district.

The city's first organized firefighting force was formed on January 10, 1868, when a group of volunteers created the Friendship Hook and Ladder Company. Several other volunteer companies were formed by 1870, and together they came to be known as the Jacksonville Volunteer Fire Department.

In 1876, a group of 22 African Americans organized the Duval Hose Company. Their station was located near the intersection of Pine and Ashley Streets. The Duval Hose Company soon became one of the most active volunteer companies in Jacksonville.

On December 16, 1885, an African American named Henry Bradley, was killed when a flaming wall collapsed onto him. Bradley thus became the first Jacksonville firefighter to die in the line of duty. The public outcry about Bradley's death, coupled with rising insurance rates due to Jacksonville’s lack of a professional fire department, led to calls for change. Several fire insurance companies serving Jacksonville threatened to withdraw their coverage. Fire insurance rates went up by 25%, which threatened to halt the city’s development.

On April 20, 1886, the Jacksonville City Council passed an ordinance creating a professional fire department. Peter Jones, former mayor of Jacksonville, was elected as the city’s first fire chief. He was provided 17 men to staff 3 stations to protect the city area of approximately 39 square miles. Jones remained fire chief through the Great Fire of 1901.

Divisions
The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department is comprised of six divisions, all of which play an integral role in providing around the clock emergency response to the City of Jacksonville. Each one oversees specific tasks, but come together to form JFRD. The department's main goal is two fold. First, JFRD wants respond to every emergency call with the appropriate personnel and equipment to extinguish the blaze. The second part of the department's goal is to administer emergency medical treatment as soon as possible.

Operations
The Fire Operations Division deploys about one thousand men and women who oversee the operation of ninety-two types of apparatus, and the function of fifty eight fire houses. Also, within this division are a variety of special operations teams. All of the personnel, teams, and equipment under Fire Operations provide around the clock emergency response services to an eight hundred and forty square mile territory. In 2013, Fire Operations responded to 120,665 emergency calls. These calls included fires, patient extrications from automobiles and a number of other investigations.