Poway Fire Department Celebrates 50 Years

Every year the Poway Fire Department celebrates Fire Prevention Week with an open house, showing off the station and the fire trucks to public. But this year, in honor of their 50th anniversary, they’re planning on going all out.

“We’re having a different open house than we usually do,” said firefighter Don Pursley who is also the vice-president of the Poway Firefighters Association. “We thought it’d be a little better to show people what we actually do on call.”

To do that, they’ll be hosting the event at their fire training tower and will have live demonstrations of auto extrication and roof ventilation―cutting holes into a building to let heat and fire out, which in turn helps the firefighters inside extinguish the flames faster. They’ll also give a step-by-step lesson in fire suppression.

“We have the ability to burn inside a room in our training tower, but we’re going to simulate a fire with a smoke machine,” Pusley said.

There will also be plenty of activities for the kiddos, with fire clowns and the Kid’s Safety House―a place where children can learn methods to prevent fire and burns.

The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 8, at 12335 Crosthwaite Circle. For more information, call the city’s senior administrative assistant Michelle Clark at 858-668-4460.