County Employees Learn About Fire Prevention

Employees and members of the public visiting the County Operations Center got a chance to walk through an Interactive Fire Prevention Trailer and to talk to volunteer firefighters about various ways to keep their home and family safe.

As part of National Fire Prevention Week, the San Diego County Fire Authority parked a structure protection engine from Pine Valley and a brush CAL FIRE engine as well as the interactive trailer next to the entrance Tuesday to talk to people about how to safeguard their homes from fires.

The trailer, on loan from the San Miguel Fire Protection District, resembles an apartment inside and has two levels. At one point several children went through the trailer and had a chance to simulate an evacuation. Firefighters used a machine that uses vegetable oil to generate smoke and held it at one end of the trailer, prompting children to go out onto a balcony and climb down a ladder to escape.

Every year, Fire Prevention Week has a theme, and this year it’s Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month.

“Nationally, statistics show your risk of dying in a home fire is cut in half in homes with working smoke alarms,” said Herman Reddick, County Fire Authority. “Smoke alarms should be installed outside of every sleeping area and you should replace the battery at least once every year.”

The U.S. Fire Administration recommends that you have dual sensor alarms or both photoelectric or ionization smoke alarms because they detect different kind of fires. Alarms are also available for people with hearing loss which also have strobe lights or vibrations to alert residents.

Some newer smoke alarms now have 10-year lithium batteries which are non-replaceable, but units should still be tested monthly.

The Fire Authority also made informational materials available for employees and the public.

Visit the Fire Authority website to learn more about the agency and wildfire prevention.