Florida Will Add Firefighter to State Memorial
The state agency plans to honor Jason Norman at the Withlacoochee Forest site.
Updated on Oct. 5, 2026 in Environmental
The Florida Forest Service will update the Florida Wildland Firefighter Memorial to include the name of Jason Norman. Norman, a firefighter who served the agency, died in April 2026 following a medical emergency.
Why it matters
The addition marks the 14th name on a monument established in 1985 to recognize those lost while managing wildfire risks. This update occurs during a year marked by increased wildfire activity across the state.
The Florida Wildland Firefighter Memorial currently records 13 names, with Jason Norman set to be the 14th etched into the site's stone monument. Statewide, 2026 wildfire counts have surpassed 3,000 incidents, contributing to a total of 280,000 acres burned this year.
The players
Florida Forest Service
The state agency responsible for managing 280,000 acres of burned land and coordinating wildfire suppression across Florida.
Jason Norman
A Florida Forest Service firefighter who passed away during a medical emergency in April 2026.
Marco Miranda
A firefighter whose 1985 death led to the original dedication of the memorial in the Withlacoochee State Forest.
Albert Newton
A Florida firefighter who died in Duval County in 1960 and is one of the original names honored on the memorial.
The details
The memorial is situated at the Withlacoochee Forestry Training Center in the Withlacoochee State Forest, where the names of fallen personnel are permanently etched into stone. The site serves as a historical record for the Florida Forest Service, dating back to the memorial's 1985 dedication following the death of Marco Miranda. The addition of Norman follows a year in which agency firefighters have already contended with over 3,000 wildfire incidents across Florida.
Timeline
1960: Albert Newton died in Duval County.
1985: The memorial was dedicated following the death of Marco Miranda.
2018: The state began tracking a surge in annual wildfires from 2,000 to 3,000.
April 2026: Jason Norman died following a medical emergency.
2026: Florida recorded more than 3,000 wildfires this year.
The Tech Race
The Florida Wildland Firefighter Memorial serves as the formal state repository for recognizing personnel losses in the field. This update extends the memorial's historical record to acknowledge a contemporary death within the agency's ranks.
The memorial is located at the Withlacoochee Forestry Training Center and remains accessible to the public for those wishing to visit the site. Residents should monitor the official Florida Forest Service announcements for updates regarding the ceremony to honor the new name.
The takeaway
The addition of Jason Norman highlights the ongoing risks faced by state personnel as wildfire frequency has risen to nearly 3,000 incidents annually. Observers can track future site updates and memorial protocols through the official Florida Forest Service portal.
Further reading
For broader context on state land management, read more in Environmental.
Source note: This article includes information reported by FOX 13 Tampa Bay.
