Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services hosting open house
–On Saturday, May 5, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Atascadero Fire & Emergency Services will be hosting their second annual Open House at Fire Station 1, located at 6005 Lewis Ave, Atascadero. This event will be an opportunity for the public to see the inner workings of fire and emergency services through interactive displays and activities; it is free to the public and all ages are encouraged to attend and enjoy all of the activities that are being planned. The open house is sponsored by the City of Atascadero, Atascadero Firefighters Association and the Atascadero Professional Firefighters Local 3600. The Atascadero Firefighters Association will provide BBQ hot dogs (while supplies last) and will be accepting donations for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
Guests will have the opportunity to meet the firefighters and go on walk-through tours of Fire Station 1. Firefighters will give educational fire safety tips, fire apparatus displays and will offer fun activities for children, including the San Luis Obispo County Fire Chiefs’ Fire Safety House. Firefighters will also perform rescue and fire demonstrations at 11 a.m. and again at 1 p.m. The Atascadero Police Department K9 Association will have live demonstrations and the California Highway Patrol Car Seat Inspection Team will be on hand to answer any questions about child seat safety and offer inspections to parents and expecting parents. The San Luis Obispo Regional Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.), Red Cross and San Luis Ambulance will all be part of this year’s event.
“Our goal is to create a fire safe community by providing awareness and educational opportunities,” said Fire Chief Casey Bryson. “Hosting an open house gives our citizens the chance to see their emergency service workers in action and learn more about fire and life safety,” said Bryson. “It is important to build long-lasting relationships with our community members so we have partners in keeping our city safe from fire,” said Bryson.
The event also coincides with National Wildfire Preparedness Day. The department will have several displays showing how residents can create a defensible space and fire safe/drought resistant landscapes, which will help keep their homes protected in a wildland fire. Publications from “Ready, Set, Go” wildland fire preparedness will be available.
Mayor Tom O’Malley says, “As Mayor of Atascadero and as a proud son of one of the first fulltime firefighters at the Atascadero Fire Department, I strongly encourage our community members to visit the open house, have some fun, meet our fire personnel and learn more about the department as well as how to stay safe during an emergency.”
A Public Information Officer will be on-hand to assist the media throughout the events. For more information, contact Kelly Arebalo at (805) 470-3300.