Fire trucks, floats and marching groups will roll through Jackson next Wednesday as the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department holds its annual Fire Prevention Parade, the centerpiece of the department’s observance of Fire Prevention Week.
The parade is set for Wednesday, Oct. 7. Lineup begins at 2:30 p.m., and the parade steps off at 3:30 p.m. The department is partnering with the National Fire Protection Association for this year’s Fire Prevention Week, which runs Oct. 4-10 nationwide.
Parade lineup and how to take part
Organizers have assigned staging areas for each type of entry:
- Floats will line up on the road behind Gilmore Elementary School.
- Marching groups will assemble on Mayton Drive.
- Fire equipment will line up on Forest Avenue.
Groups, businesses and organizations that want to reserve a place in the parade should contact the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department.
The afternoon timing means the parade will follow the end of the school day, giving families a chance to bring children out to see the trucks and meet the firefighters who serve their community.
A week that starts in church
The department will open Fire Prevention Week on Sunday with church inspections. Afterward, firefighters will attend church services together, a tradition that pairs a practical safety check of buildings where large groups gather with a show of fellowship between the department and the congregations it protects.
Places of worship present particular fire safety considerations. They often hold large crowds at set times, may have older buildings and wiring, and use kitchens, candles and heating systems. Inspections give firefighters a chance to check exits, fire extinguishers and alarm systems, and to familiarize themselves with buildings they may one day have to enter in an emergency.
This year’s theme: safe charging
The 2026 Fire Prevention Week campaign, which the NFPA has titled “Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower!”, focuses on the simple steps people can take to recharge devices safely. That includes cell phones, tablets, laptops, tools, toys, e-bikes and scooters, nearly all of which run on lithium-ion batteries.
When those batteries are damaged or charged incorrectly, they can overheat, start a fire or even explode.
“The way you charge your lithium-ion battery devices can make a difference in helping prevent home fires,” JVFD Chief John Brown said. “It comes down to using simple habits each time you plug in.”
Safety tips from the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department
The department is sharing these charging tips as part of the campaign:
- Use the cord and charger that came with your device, or one approved by the manufacturer.
- Charge devices on a table, desk or other hard, flat surface. Do not charge them on beds, couches or under pillows.
- Do not use a device if it feels hot, begins to swell, is smoking or has a strange smell.
- Unplug the device once it is fully charged.
- Charge larger items, such as e-bikes, scooters and power tools, outside and away from exits.
- When charging on a plane, keep the device where you can see it.
Why the advice matters
Lithium-ion batteries pack a large amount of energy into a small space. A battery that has been dropped, punctured, exposed to extreme heat or paired with a cheap, incompatible charger can suffer internal damage that leads to overheating. Once a battery cell begins to overheat, it can trigger neighboring cells in a chain reaction known as thermal runaway, producing intense heat, toxic smoke and flames that are hard to extinguish.
Soft surfaces such as mattresses and sofas trap heat around a charging device and are themselves easy to ignite, which is why firefighters urge people to charge on hard surfaces. Charging large batteries outdoors and away from exits keeps a potential fire from blocking the way out of a home. And watching for warning signs like swelling or odd smells gives people a chance to stop using a failing battery before it becomes a fire.
The NFPA has said the topic was chosen because lithium-ion batteries are a relatively new technology, and many people do not realize the risks they carry, especially during charging.
How residents can support the department
The Jackson Volunteer Fire Department will mail fundraising letters to residents and businesses in the coming weeks. The department is also accepting donations of bottled water and sports drinks, which firefighters rely on to stay hydrated during calls and training. Donated drinks can be dropped off at the downtown fire station Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Like most departments in Clarke County, the JVFD depends heavily on volunteers and community support. Clarke County is served by 15 fire departments, many of them staffed primarily by volunteers, who work alongside the Clarke County Emergency Management Agency and the county’s E-911 system to respond to fires, medical emergencies and other calls throughout the county’s towns and rural areas.
About Fire Prevention Week
Fire Prevention Week is the longest-running public health observance in the United States. It commemorates the Great Chicago Fire, which began Oct. 8, 1871, and destroyed much of the city. Since 1925, U.S. presidents have proclaimed a national Fire Prevention Week each October, and the NFPA has served as the official sponsor, choosing a new safety theme each year.
Across the country, fire departments use the week to visit schools, hold open houses and stage events like Jackson’s parade, all aimed at teaching children and adults how to prevent fires and how to escape safely if one occurs.
If you go
- What: Jackson Volunteer Fire Department’s annual Fire Prevention Parade
- When: Wednesday, Oct. 7; lineup at 2:30 p.m., parade at 3:30 p.m.
- Staging: Floats behind Gilmore Elementary School; marching groups on Mayton Drive; fire equipment on Forest Avenue
- To enter: Contact the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department
- Donations: Water and sports drinks accepted at the downtown fire station, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.