Operational Overview of "A Sea of Blue"
FALLEN FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL MARCH
OCTOBER 10, 2014
GENERAL
: The following information is part of the Incident Action Plan that will be implemented for the Fallen Firefighter Memorial March on October 10. Everyone should be aware that this is a somber march to honor our fallen firefighters and NOT a parade. Uniform badges at the march should not have the black band attached.All active and retired personnel participating in the march NOT assigned to on-duty apparatus in the procession must report to Lot J at EverBank Field
No Later Than 0830 hours. If you are coming off shift, make every effort to arrive as close to 0830 as possible. Upon arrival at Lot J, personnel will board JTA buses and be transported to the Jacksonville Landing. Upon arrival at the Landing, personnel will make formation along Independent Drive and face west toward Hogan St.ARRANGEMENT OF APPARATUS AND PERSONNEL
- The procession will be led by 24 JFRD apparatus.
- JFRD Honor Guard and JFRD Pipes and Drums Band will follow the apparatus.
- Next in line, approximately 600 uniformed personnel positioned front to rear as follows:
(1) Class A uniforms with white hats
(2) Class A uniforms with blue hats
(3) Long sleeve blue shirts no caps
(4) Short sleeve blue shirts no caps
Ball caps and / or sunglasses ARE NOT authorized for this event.
White shirts without dress coat ARE NOT authorized for this event. With the exception of the official retired firefighter uniform.
- RHB 37 and R 52 will trail the formation.
APPARATUS: Here’s the procession in order from front to rear:
JSO Motorcade
Fire 1, Fire 2, Fire 3, Fire 4, Fire 5, Fire 6, Fire 7, Fire 8, Fire 9, R 103, R 104, R 105,
R1, R4, R28, E1, E4, E28, L21, L28, L31, HM7, HM21, HR4, RHB37, R52.
** All Chief cars will proceed two abreast. All other apparatus will be single file.
**RHB 37 and R52 will trail the formation behind uniformed personnel as part of the Safety Plan
ARRIVAL TIMES: Apparatus in the procession will be assigned staggered arrival times in order to make the positioning of apparatus more manageable. If you arrive prior to your appointed time, stage several blocks away without impeding traffic then move into position at your appointed time. Apparatus arrival times are as follows:
0900 Hrs - R52, RHB37, HR4, HM21, and HM7
0910 Hrs – L31, L28 and L21
0920 Hrs – E1, E4, and E28
0930 Hrs – R1, R4, R28, R103, R104, R105
0940 Hrs – F1, F2, F3, F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, and F9
ROUTE OF MARCH: The procession will step off at 10 AM sharp and move north on Hogan Street, continue to Duval Street and turn east in front of City Hall. The procession will then turn north onto Laura Street and continue to Ashley Street and turn east. Upon arrival at Liberty Street, all apparatus in the procession with the exception of RHB 37 and R 52 will turn north and immediately return to service and return to their first due territories. The Honor Guard and the Pipes and Drum Band along with the Director/Fire Chief and Division Chiefs will assume their positions at the Memorial. All other uniformed personnel will fill Liberty Street in front of Station 1 and Ashley Street south of Station 1. RHB 37 and R52 will stage on Liberty Street south of Ashley Street near the JTA buses.
CHIEF RESPONSE: All Battalion and District Chiefs in the procession will remain in service. Should a call be dispatched in the City requiring the response of a Battalion or District Chief, the appropriate number of chiefs at the front of the procession will safely disengage from the procession and respond regardless of the location of the call. The remaining chiefs will fill in and proceed along the route. Subsequent calls will be handled in the same manner. All other apparatus in the procession are out of service until reaching the end of the route.
POST-CEREMONY: Upon completion of the event, personnel may board the available buses or proceed on foot back to EverBank Field. The JAFF Local 122 will be serving a barbeque lunch near the stadium.
PARKING FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS OF MARCH PARTICIPANTS: Metered parking along and near the procession route will be unavailable or extremely limited. There will be a robust police presence in the downtown area and along the Skyway for this event. Recommended parking options are:
- Parking at the Jefferson Street Station lot and taking the Skyway to either Central Station or Heming Plaza Station. Central Station is closest to the Landing should visitors wish to line Hogan Street at the beginning of the march. Heming Plaza Station will allow visitors view the procession as it passes in front of City Hall. This option involves no cost.
- Parking is available at the Omni Hotel across from the Times Union Center for a fee and is a three block walk to the procession route.
- Parking is available at the Hyatt Hotel and Jacksonville Landing parking lots / garages.