Firetrucks To Overrun Beverly Hills Neighborhood For A Good Cause

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — If you see any fire trucks along your street on Saturday, don’t be alarmed: the Beverly Hills Fire Department and Beverly Hills Fire Association are taking a tour of the city for Fire Service Day. Normally, the BHFD and the BHFA host an open house for Fire Service Day each year on the second Saturday of May at the Civic Center Headquarters Fire Station on Rexford Drive. The community is invited to fire engine rides, educational programs, fire demonstrations, hot dogs, and of course a real dog: the beloved Sparky the Fire Dog.

This year, because of COVID-19, the community can’t come to the Fire Department, so the Fire Department is covering to the community. Five engines, one ladder truck, three paramedic rescue vehicles and one battalion SUV will drive through what Assistant Deputy Joseph Matsch estimates are 95% the city’s streets starting at 10 a.m. Matsch said that some trucks may put on lights and sirens.

Matsch made sure to point out that officers will be wearing masks and observing appropriate social distancing requirements. The trucks will drive at slow speeds, and won’t distribute any goodies like they normally might on the celebratory drive-bys the BHFA sometimes organizes to honor residents’ milestones and happy events. Matsch also pointed out that 27 firefighters will be on call during the parade, and routes may change depending on emergencies.

“We have had a longstanding, amazing relationship with Beverly Hills. We want to continue that relationship. Every year, we see that relationship demonstrated for Fire Service Day with the outpouring of support we have,” said Matsch. “We want to continue that. We feel like if we don’t have some type of event for Fire Service Day, we break that tradition.”