Brea : Fire Services Offers New Safety Programs

Four new programs are being offered by the city’s Fire Services Department.

“Fire Services isn’t just about putting out fires,” Brea Fire Chief Bill Simpkins said. “Our goal is to educate the community about fire and home safety.”

The Brea C.A.R.E.S. (Community Assistance and Response to Emergency Situations) program trains community volunteers to assist their neighbors and city employees during large-scale emergencies such as natural disasters.

Classes include: Emergency Preparedness, Response and the Basics of Fire Extinguishment; Medical Aid During an Emergency/Disaster; Light Search and Rescue; Introduction to Disaster Psychology and Community Emergency Response Teams, and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.

For more information on the classes, call Anna Cave at (714) 990-7622.

Another new program, Fire Exploring, is designed for young people from the ages of 14 to 20 who are interested in becoming professional firefighters.

For more information, call Bob Verburg at (714) 671-4433.

The Smoke Detector Installation and Home Safety Program is offered for seniors 60 and older. Free smoke detectors are furnished by the Orange County Area Agency for the Aging. Brea Fire Services officials will install the detectors free and check homes for potential hazards.

For more information, call the Area Agency for Aging at (714) 567-7500.

There is also a program for Brea’s youngest residents. Stuffed toys called Care Bears are now carried as standard equipment by firefighters and paramedics to give to children at emergency scenes.

For more information on these outreach programs, call the Brea Fire Services Department at (714) 990-7644.