A Few Minutes with the Mayor – March 2026

TAKING LONG DRIVES through the Rogue Valley and beyond is a favorite pastime for my family. Mention the words “road trip” and we are literally on the road soon. Recently, while we have been out and about, the fields and valleys have been alive with a color you only see in spring. An old friend looked forward to it every year, and she described it as “acid green.” To her, it signified hope in the form of new beginnings and the end of cold and rainy weather.

The bright spring greens and yellows we see in the new green grass and yellow forsythia, along with all the early spring blossoms everywhere, gladden my heart. I feel a surge of energy and want to dive right into garden and do home projects.

A lot of us delve into spring cleaning after the winter months. Make one of your spring-cleaning projects about FIRE PREVENTION and make that a priority project. I know it’s early, but some fire prevention plans might take more time than you realize. This is a very simplified list of things you can do this spring to participate in fire prevention and safety.

To start, pour a cup of coffee or tea, and make a list of what you need to do this year to keep your family safe. Earmark those piles of rags from your shop or garage for disposal. Get rid of those stacks of newspapers. Clear walkways, pathways, and all entrances and exits on your property. Donate books and recycle magazines that clutter up those areas. “Clean and clutter-free” should be your mantra regarding any hazardous materials or anything else that could impede your family from leaving your home safely and quickly, in the event of a fire or other emergency. Make it a block or neighborhood project. Some folks could make runs to the dump or recycling areas. Some could drop off items to Habitat for Humanity or a nonprofit organization for resale.

Perhaps stage a neighborhood garage sale. Remove anything that could cause a problem around your home or business. Another good idea is to research the best way to leave your home and city. If you do not already have the City of Jacksonville Emergency Evacuation Checklist & Map and our Citizen Emergency Guide, stop by City Hall and pick them up. Keep a copy of them in every vehicle you own. Check through your GO BAGS and update them, along with your first aid kits. Make sure you and everyone in your family know where these items are and how they are to be used.

The city newsletter and the Jacksonville Review are excellent sources of information on city-wide events that will help you with your safety and cleanup. Facebook pages for the Jacksonville Police Department and Fire Department are well worth following for news. Our Firewise neighborhoods are doing an excellent job of educating us about different levels of fire prevention we can participate in. An upcoming activity, the Applegate All Things Fire Fair, is a family-friendly event featuring presentations and interactive demonstrations focused on wildfire and community preparedness. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore tables with essential information and resources—including how to access financial assistance for fuel reduction on private lands. Learn how to take action and hear from experts on a variety of topics ranging from the use of prescribed fire to homeowners’ insurance. It is sponsored by the Applegate Fire District on March 7, starting at 10am. The event address is: Ruch Fire Station, 1095 Upper Applegate Road, Jacksonville.

Again, this is a very simplified list to help you prepare for fire season. It is the single most frightening disaster I worry about in Jacksonville. I would rather be safe than sorry. As a city, we are doing everything possible to keep you safe in the event of an emergency. I believe we can all ensure the safety and lives of our families with a little preparation. As we usually do, we will continue to keep you informed of dates on events and news, that can help you this fire season.