NEWPORT BEACH : 1,500 Attend City Public Safety Day

Four-year-old Christopher Seeley’s mouth popped open as he watched a dry Christmas tree erupt in flames that quickly spread to a nearby structure.

He was just as impressed when he saw firefighters put out the blaze, which they had set.

The demonstration Sunday was the highlight of the city’s 12th annual Public Safety Day, attended by about 1,500 people.

Firefighters were joined by police, lifeguards, Harbor Patrol officers, California Highway Patrol officers and U.S. Coast Guard officials in offering brochures on topics ranging from how to dispose of hazardous materials properly to when it’s appropriate to call 911.

Demonstrations included a rescue from the roof of the fire station with a ladder truck, police officers cutting figure eights on their motorcycles and rescue workers prying apart a car with a hydraulic prying device.

“We’re trying to get the public in here to show them how we work as a team and stress fire safety in their homes and businesses,” said Fire Capt. Dave Bowman.

Firefighter Bob Weber told a group touring the station that “it’s very important that everybody have smoke detectors and a meeting place. Once you get out of a burning house, I don’t want to see anybody get back in. When you’re trying to get out, cover your nose because inhaling the hot gases can kill you.”

Hundreds of kids participated in “stop, drop and roll” exercises that showed how to leave a burning building, scaled walls with the police SWAT team, checked out their heartbeats on defibrillators and generally asked lots of questions.

While 5-year-old Alexa Rosado tried on some firefighting gear, she quizzed firefighters about the dangers of their job.

She told her mother that she wants to become a firefighter.

“This is about the only time the public can come here to see, touch and talk to the firefighters and learn how to prepare for emergencies,” Deputy Fire Chief August Wagner said.

During a tour of the police station, Officer John Ludvigson showed a group of about 20 where the jail, briefing room, shooting range and Police Chief Arb Campbell’s office are.

“This acquaints the community with us,” he said. “It makes them not so afraid and gives them a little more confidence in the officers themselves.”

Jarret Yasuoka, whose three daughters carried coloring books and plastic helmets they got from the Fire Department, said the program offered the opportunity of meeting public safety officers.

“We get to see (police officers and firefighters) up close and as real human beings,” Yasuoka said.

For Wafa Kharuf and her son, the highlight was a visit to the jail.

“This is great,” Kharuf said. “It’s always good to have a little fear in (the kids’) hearts so they’ll know what will happen to them if they commit any crimes.”

Newport Beach resident Mary Green said she brought her two children to the fire and police open house so “they can see what will happen to them if they do something bad and to know what to do when they need help.”

A slightly different assessment was offered by Karen Cole.

“It’s important for kids to have very positive feelings toward fire and police officials so that they’ll feel comfortable to go up to them when they need help,” Cole said.

Cole’s daughter, Katie, 8, said she learned a valuable lesson Sunday.

“You should be careful about everything you do, like wear seat belts and don’t play with matches,” Katie said. “But if you do and you set a house on fire, just roll on the ground and crawl out.”