Fire Prevention Week Kickoff in Newport Beach with Fire Safety Day

NEWPORT BEACH, CA — What does it take to be a real firefighter? Newport Beach Fire Department invited its neighbors to Station 7 on Sunday to find out. There's a lot more to playing firefighter than just putting on a red plastic helmet or donning authentic kid-sized fire boots.

The training facility at Station 7 was opened for all to come and learn about the firefighters who serve them on a daily basis. Approximately 500 residents came out to spend the afternoon learning about the fire department and getting to know the firefighters who serve them.

"This event was first put on 20-plus years ago and is an interactive day for everybody, as a kickoff for fire prevention week," Newport Beach Fire Department Assistant Chief Chip Duncan said. The event began with Newport Fire Department's past chief, Randy Sheerer, according to Duncan. "He wanted to kick fire prevention week up a notch, and have the department do demonstrations and show the people we serve what we do and how we do it."

Over the years, Newport Beach Fire Department has improved the public awareness day and added new things. Education of children and parents was key, as was getting across the message about replacing batteries in smoke detectors, or replacing hard-wired smoke detectors every 10 years. All attendees received a free smoke detector to take home.

"For fire prevention week, smoke detector maintenance is the most important thing," Duncan said. "Everyone should have at least one, if not more than one smoke detector in their home."

Outreach to schools ensured that a number of children were on hand to witness the live fire demonstration and to learn how to be safe around fire and not to play with matches.

Visitors got a hot dog or hamburger and could have their faces painted, but they also had up-close views of the firetrucks and vehicles that show up on scene during an emergency.

According to Duncan, different types of emergencies call for different types of trucks. And when firefighters show up in a smoke-filled home, it's important for children not to be afraid of firefighters during emergency situations.

"Kids need to know that if there is a fire, they don't need to be afraid when we come looking for them," Duncan said. "There is a person underneath all of the equipment. We're coming to help you. We're not scary monsters, we're here to help."

The live-fire demonstration showed all what happens when an engine first pulls up to a fire.

"The fact that we are a training facility, we are able to practice different scenarios and stay on top of our skills," Duncan said. "If you don't practice, you won't be ready when the bell rings."

Firefighters in Newport Beach actively train on everything from high-angle rope rescues and forcible extrication from automobiles to ventilation with chainsaws on rooftops and more.

"We practice different scenarios and tasks, stay on top of our skills," he said. "Mayor Diane Dixon summarized the work we do as being 'the Swiss army knife' in our approach. We prepare our firefighters for anything."

Kids and parents got to see some of those live demonstrations, had the opportunity to "dress like a firefighter," check out the vehicles and watch firefighters in action.

A rewarding part of the day? Newport Beach area children enjoyed this chance to get to know what it is really like to have a career in the fire service.

"We have the little guys that have their own sets of turnouts walking around," Duncan said. "Even one wearing little legitimate firefighter boots. Being a fireman's cool, and you hear a lot of kids saying they want to be firefighters when they grow up."

Photos, courtesy Newport Beach Fire Department