On Thursday, December 11, 2025, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) held a solemn ceremony at Fire Station 1 to honor 28 firefighters who have died in the line of duty, including two new additions lost to occupational cancer. Engineers Ian Church and Jason Woodruff were memorialized alongside 26 other JFRD personnel whose names are etched into the Fallen Firefighter Memorial, which stands as a lasting tribute to the department’s history of service and sacrifice.
The ceremony drew JFRD personnel, families of the fallen, community members, and city officials. Fire Chief Percy Golden II reflected on the human impact behind each name on the wall: “When I look at this wall, I don’t see twenty-eight names. I see twenty-eight lives. Twenty-eight families. Twenty-eight chairs that went empty at dinner tables across Jacksonville. We haven’t forgotten. We will never forget.”
Retired JFRD Captain Nick Tison served as master of ceremonies and highlighted the memorial’s origins. Dedicated on June 29, 1987, the memorial initially bore 14 names; over the decades, it has doubled as firefighters continued to make the ultimate sacrifice.
The heart of the ceremony was the Last Alarm roll call, led by JFRD Honor Guard Commander Engineer Justin Adler. Each of the 28 names was read aloud as the memorial bell tolled in tribute. Widows Brittany Church and Jen Woodruff rang the bell for their husbands and were presented with commemorative portraits by the Honor Guard, ensuring their memories are formally honored.
Colleagues of Church and Woodruff shared personal reflections, emphasizing their dedication and character. Josh Davis recounted moments with Ian Church, while Lieutenant Scott Abel spoke about Jason Woodruff, offering heartfelt insight into their contributions to the department. Memorial plaques were presented to Captains Derek Nowell (Station 60) and Jonathan McMullen (Station 19) to be displayed permanently at their home stations.
Chief Golden addressed the growing concern of occupational cancer in the fire service, noting that many firefighters, including Church and Woodruff, develop cancer as a direct result of years of exposure to toxic environments while protecting the public. “Ian and Jason gave years of dedicated service to JFRD and this community. They answered countless calls. They touched countless lives. And like too many firefighters, they developed cancer as a result of the work they did,” Golden said.
He further expressed gratitude to the families, promising continued efforts to safeguard the health and safety of all JFRD personnel: “Thank you for sharing them with us. Thank you for supporting them through their service. Please know that we will honor their memory by continuing to fight for the health and safety of every firefighter who follows in their footsteps.”
The ceremony concluded with the presentation of the American flag by the JFRD Honor Guard, a 21-gun salute by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Firing Team, the playing of Taps, and a rendition of Amazing Grace by the JFRD Pipes and Drums. Chaplain Dr. Percy Golden, Sr., delivered the closing benediction, highlighting the spiritual significance of the ceremony and the enduring legacy of the fallen firefighters.
The JFRD Fallen Firefighter Memorial serves as a permanent testament to the courage, dedication, and sacrifice of Jacksonville firefighters across generations. The 28 names reflect lives devoted to public safety, illustrating the profound personal and professional impact these men and women have had on their community.
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