House Fire in Durkeeville Critically Injures One, Displaces Seven
I’ll be honest—reading about another house fire in Jacksonville shook me. This wasn’t just smoke and flames; it was seven people suddenly left without a home, and one person fighting for life in the hospital. It all happened on Monday evening in Durkeeville, a neighborhood with deep history and tight community ties.
The fire broke out in the 1100 block of 8th Street West. By the time crews arrived, the home was already filled with heavy smoke. Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) rushed in, pulling out family members and even four tiny kittens that might not have survived without them. Seven residents were displaced. One of them was rushed to the hospital in critical condition.
When I looked at the SERP coverage, I noticed most outlets only repeated the basic facts: address, victim count, and that the cause isn’t known yet. What’s missing is the human side of the story—what it feels like to lose everything in minutes, and how neighbors and rescue teams step in at your worst moment. That’s what I want to highlight here…