Jackson Fire Department

Jackson Fire Department traces its roots to 1882, when citizens organized the Jackson Volunteer Fire Department by city ordinance; the department transitioned to a fully paid force in 1893. Early milestones include the 1912 purchase of the state's first motorized fire apparatus, an American LaFrance pumping engine, and the steady addition of stations through the 20th century as the city grew.

Today the department runs seven fire stations across Jackson, providing round-the-clock fire suppression, emergency medical response, water rescue, hazardous materials response, confined space rescue, rope rescue, and vehicle extraction. Beyond emergency response, JFD runs community-facing programs including Project ESCAPE, JFD Community Connect, a Ride-Along Program, and the Jackson Fire & Rescue Community Safety Fund, alongside ongoing fire prevention and education efforts.

The department is led by Fire Chief Don Friddle and Deputy Fire Chief Marcus Turner, supported by dedicated Training, EMS, Maintenance, and Fire Marshal divisions. JFD recruits year-round with monthly orientation and testing cycles for prospective firefighters.

Jackson Fire Department is currently accepting firefighter applications, with recruitment and entrance testing offered on a recurring monthly cycle rather than a single annual window.