Board honors Hillsborough County Fire Rescue for raising awareness about the importance of fire prevention
During the Oct. 7 meeting, The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners presented a proclamation declaring Oct. 4 to Oct. 10, 2026, as Fire Prevention Week. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Chief Jason Dougherty accepted the proclamation.
Fire remains a serious public safety concern both locally and nationally, and the presence of lithium-ion batteries in many household devices introduces fire risks. The National Fire Protection Association reports an increase in battery-related fires, underscoring the need for public education on the safe use of lithium-ion batteries and devices. The 2026 Fire Prevention Week theme, "Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower," serves to remind all residents that safe charging can help reduce the risk of fires in homes and communities.
After accepting the proclamation, Dougherty thanked the Board and said that Fire Rescue and its dedicated staff will always dedicate themselves to raising awareness about the importance of fire prevention.
"Fire prevention is just that," he said. "It's to prevent the fires, and if we can do that in our community and make our citizens more safe on the daily basis, that's our goal."
The Board also presented the 2026 Anti-Bullying Recognition Awards to Madden Moore and Nariah Rivera.
Interested in all the details about the latest BOCC meeting? Here is a full recap.
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