JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department’s Marine Division recently joined several regional and federal agencies for advanced water rescue training aimed at strengthening coordination during emergencies on local waterways.
The Boat Operator Search and Rescue (BOSAR) course was held last week at U.S. Coast Guard Station Mayport and brought together marine response teams from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Fire and Rescue Department, St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, Nassau County Fire and Rescue Department, the Saint Augustine Fire Department and the United States Coast Guard.
The BOSAR program was developed by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators in partnership with the Coast Guard and is recognized as the national standard for maritime law enforcement and emergency response training.
Officials said the training is designed to improve coordination among agencies that operate on shared waterways, ensuring faster and more effective responses during emergencies.
For Jacksonville Fire and Rescue, the training builds on a long-standing commitment to marine operations, with its program previously recognized as a national best practice.
“When someone is in distress on the water, they don’t care which agency shows up first. They just need us to be ready and working together,” said Fire Chief Percy Golden II. “That’s what this training is about — building the coordination that saves lives.”
With more miles of shoreline than any other city in Florida, officials emphasized the importance of ongoing training and collaboration to keep residents and visitors safe on the water.