Latest news with #StJohnsCounty
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
6-year-old airlifted to the hospital after near-drowning: SJSO
A child has been hospitalized after a near-drowning in a St. Johns County neighborhood. A St. Johns County Sheriff's Office spokesperson tells us the agency responded to a drowning in the Silverleaf neighborhood. The victim was a 6-year-old, who officials say had to be airlifted to a hospital. Action News Jax is working to learn more about how the near-drowning happened and the current condition of the child. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
House fires are on the rise in St. Johns County
St. Johns County Fire Rescue said they've seen a 6.5% increase in structure fires in the last year. Lithium-ion batteries are a big reason why firefighters are battling more house fires. 'We've seen a definite influx in golf cart fires and e-bike fires,' said Chris Naff, the spokesperson for St. Johns County Fire Rescue. 'If they get overcharged, they actually start expanding and heating up, and then that melts the outer shell, and that's when they basically for, lack of a better term, explode.' The county's growing population is also something being attributed to the increase. Read: St. Johns County releases stricter version of proposed e-bike safety law [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Naff said there have been 82 structure fires since the start of this year. And the majority of those have been garage fires. 'In the last month or two, probably 80% of our fires have been started in the garage,' said Naff. The next time you plug in your electric vehicles, firefighters said, first and foremost, follow the manufacturer's recommendations for charging. 'Typically, they are going to say plug them in and charge them to 100% or about 100%,' said Naff. 'And unplug them from both the wall outlet where you have them and the apparatus that they are plugged into.' If you can, Naff suggests charging them outside. 'That way, if it does catch fire, or it does spark, it's away from your house and in your driveway,' said Naff. And if your home does not already have a smoke detector in the garage, firefighters suggest installing one. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Sidewalk safety concerns for St. Johns County students inspire new law
After years of concerns over a dangerous walk to school, there is now a solution for some st. Johns County students. A new Florida law will require a bus to take students living in the St. Johns Forest neighborhood to and from Liberty Pines Academy. Kimberly Reach lives in that neighborhood and has four kids who go to the school. She said she never let her kids walk to school on the sidewalk along County Road 2209, where 9B and St. Johns Parkway meet. 'That sidewalk is extremely dangerous,' said Reach. 'No kid should have to go on a walk like that, and no parent should have to worry about their kids going to school.' In 2018, the school district cancelled bus service for most of the St. Johns Forest neighborhood when crews built the sidewalk for children to walk to school. But that sidewalk, which was already rebuilt in 2023 because of safety concerns, has now been deemed hazardous by a new bill signed by Governor Ron DeSantis. The state law revises what it means to have 'hazardous walking conditions.' 'For 5 years, there have been life flights,' said State Representative Kim Kendall. 'There have been cars that have flipped over onto the sidewalk. There have been cars that have crashed into the overpass.' [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Kendall, who introduced the bill, said there have been many accidents in that area, and 5 years ago, when she was approached by some parents raising concerns, she made it a priority to help them get a bus back in their neighborhood. 'The day bill drafting opened up, I instantly wrote this bill first through bill drafting,' said Kendall. 'This is one of those times that we needed to be proactive, and I am just so thankful that nothing terrible has happened up to this point that we can get this bill implemented and these kids safely on the school bus.' As state law, it will not only help these St. Johns County students, but also those who are experiencing a similar situation in other counties. 'When I did write this legislation and go through the committee process to hear from other legislators, even Duval County and Orange County and places across the state, they said that this bill will help those students.' Which is something Reach is also thrilled to hear. 'It just makes me so happy that this will impact more than just our neighborhood,' said Reach. 'That this can be a positive thing for a number of children .' The bill takes effect on July 1st, so students in the St. Johns Forest neighborhood should have a bus starting next school year. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
First Alert Weather: Increasing humidity and an afternoon storm risk this weekend
The Action News Jax First Alert Weather team is tracking a mild Friday night with lows in the 60s under clear skies. Notes from the meteorologist: The holiday weekend will be hot & humid with some risk for an afternoon storm so keep an eye to the sky. Saturday's storm risk is primarily for Putnam & Southern St. Johns Co. Then isolated to widely scattered mainly inland – near & west of I-95 – Sunday afternoon through a few weakening cells could make it to the beaches by evening. A few afternoon storms will be possible just about anywhere on Memorial Day. Highs will be in the 80s at the beaches to the low to mid 90s inland. Sunburn time will be 10-15 minutes from 10am-4pm. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Here's a look at your First Alert 7-Day Forecast: TONIGHT: Clear & mild. Low: 65 SATURDAY: Partly sunny & hot… an isolated late day storm possible Putnam, S. St. Johns Co. High: 93 SATURDAY NIGHT: Fair. Low: 68 SUNDAY: Partly sunny, hot & humid with a widely scattered late day shower/t'storm. High: 92 MEMORIAL DAY: Partly sunny with a few afternoon t'storms. 69/92 TUESDAY: Partly sunny with scattered afternoon showers & t'storms. 70/91 WEDNESDAY: Partly sunny with scattered afternoon storms. 71/91 THURSDAY: Partly sunny with scattered afternoon showers/storms. 71/90 FRIDAY: Partly sunny with scattered afternoon showers/t'storms. 72/90 [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Traffic pattern changes begin Tuesday at CR 210 and Greenbriar Rd. interchange
Drivers who frequent County Road 210 will see new changes to the traffic pattern beginning on Tuesday, May 20th. The area at Greenbriar Road and 210 is undergoing an interchange improvement project. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The right turn lane for drivers heading east on Greenbriar Road will be temporarily closed. Drivers will instead have to use the regular eastbound lane to continue straight on CR 210 or make a right. The dedicated left turn lane heading north on Old CR 210 will also be closed off. 'Drivers will have to make left (towards Greenbriar) and right (toward CR 210) turns at the intersection from the current right turn lane,' said St. Johns County officials. >>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<< [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter]
