JFRD only getting to half their calls as fast as they want to, per fire union president

Jacksonville firefighters are only getting to half their calls as fast as they want to, according to the president of the fire union.

To help that, the Jacksonville Fire-Rescue Department is asking the city to spend millions on a new fire station.  They hope it can help with response time and keep your family safer.

Fire station 65 would be built on Bailey Body Road off Arlington Road.

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Randy Wyse, the president of the Jacksonville Association of Firefighters, said right now, JFRD is only getting to half their calls within the time frame recommended by the National Fire Prevention Association.

“In fire calls, the first unit should be arriving within four minutes,” Wyse said.  “We hit that about 55% of the time.”

Wyse said it’s even less frequently for emergency medical services calls, at 54%.

Wyse said right now, other stations are covering near Arlington Road and Atlantic Blvd, leaving voids in some neighborhoods.

He said Station 65 would help that.

Wyse said one of those units stretched thin is Station 30.

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“These numbers are showing engine 30 last year was the number one in run volume of 4,461 calls in a year, so that would take some of that pressure off of Station 30,” Wyse said.

Tuesday night, the Jacksonville City Council heard an ordinance to put $2 million toward building Station 65.

Wyse said more stations will likely be needed to keep up with the city’s growth.

Families want this new station built.

“I think that’ll be great because we need a new fire [station] around here,” said a neighbor who only wanted to go by Ann.

Wyse said some JFRD crews -- especially in northern Jacksonville -- are traveling a long distance to get to calls, so that can skew the numbers.

Cox Media Group