Stay Safe & Warm: JFRD’s Essential Tips After Battling 5 Overnight House Fires During Cold Snap

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — With temperatures dropping overnight in Northeast Florida, JFRD was kept busy responding to five distinct fires, one of which turned fatal.

Fire Chief Damian Bell reported that the unfortunate loss of life occurred in the Normandy area during one of these incidents.

The origins of these fires are still being examined, with the State Fire Marshal’s Office collaborating with JFRD to uncover any possible links between the incidents.

The blazes ignited during the cold snap in five different locations, highlighting the risks that come with the season’s lower temperatures.

• 3900 block of Bunnell Dr
• Palafox St at 12th St.
• 3900 block of Lane Ave. S.
• 8900 block of Trail Ridge Rd.
• 9500 block of Scadlocke Rd.

Chief Bell noted that the urge to stay warm can sometimes lead individuals to resort to hazardous heating methods, which can have devastating outcomes.

“The acute weather kinda catches people off guard, so that makes people want to improvise to make sure they’re keeping warm and keeping their family warm,” he said.

As temperatures drop, JFRD is reminding residents to follow simple heating safety precautions to prevent fires. 

Officials say to keep anything flammable at least three feet away from any heat source, turn off space heaters and fireplaces before going to bed or leaving a room, and use towels or blankets to insulate doors and windows instead of open flames or stoves.

Bell also warns against using damaged equipment.

“Once a heater’s cord starts to fray or get damaged, it’s time to move on from that and use another device,” he said.

Among the most dangerous mistakes, firefighters say, are using ovens to heat homes or blocking vents around heating systems — both of which can quickly spark a fire.

“You’re trying to make ends meet — and trust me, I get it,” Bell added, “but you don’t want to put your family in another dangerous situation.”

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, the leading causes of house fires every year are cooking, heating equipment, electrical malfunctions, and smoking materials.

JFRD urges residents to stay alert and use safe heating methods as cold snaps continue through the season.

✅ Keep anything that can burn — furniture, curtains, bedding, papers — at least 3 feet away from all heating equipment.
✅ Plug space heaters directly into a wall outlet, not into extension cords or power strips.
✅ Turn off space heaters and fireplaces before leaving a room or going to bed.
✅ Have chimneys, furnaces, and vents inspected and cleaned once a year by a qualified professional.
✅ Use only the correct fuel recommended by the manufacturer for kerosene or gas heaters.
✅ Refuel portable heaters outdoors and only when the unit has cooled completely.
✅ Install and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms monthly.
✅ Keep children and pets at least 3 feet away from heat sources.
✅ Dispose of fireplace ashes in a metal container stored outside away from your home.
✅ Follow manufacturer safety instructions for every heating device.
✅ Have a fire escape plan and practice it with your family.

❌ Don’t use ovens, stovetops, or grills to heat your home.
❌ Don’t leave heating equipment unattended or running while you sleep.
❌ Don’t place heaters on rugs, beds, or unstable surfaces.
❌ Don’t store combustibles near furnaces, stoves, or space heaters.
❌ Don’t burn trash, cardboard, or treated wood in fireplaces or stoves.
❌ Don’t use gasoline or the wrong fuel in kerosene or propane heaters.
❌ Don’t refuel while the heater is on or still hot.
❌ Don’t block air vents or return ducts around heating systems.
❌ Don’t overload electrical circuits with multiple high-wattage devices.
❌ Don’t ignore smoke, gas, or fuel odors — shut off equipment and call for help immediately.
❌ Don’t skip regular maintenance on furnaces, chimneys, and heaters.