Fire Departments Sponsor Preparedness Drills Today

Fire departments countywide will host open houses and fire drills in honor of National Fire Prevention Week, which began Sunday.

The Anaheim and Fullerton fire departments are sponsoring fire drills today to emphasize the importance of planning fire escape routes from businesses, schools and homes.

The 60 Orange County Fire Authority fire stations will participate by opening their doors to the public Saturday. All stations will open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In Anaheim, drills will be held today at 9 a.m. at businesses and schools and at 7 p.m. at homes. The Anaheim Fire Department, the Disney Fire Department and American Red Cross will be at City Hall and City Hall West facilities to assist and answer questions.

In Fullerton’s “Great Escape” fire drill, firefighters at all six city stations will sound engine sirens at 7 p.m.

“As firefighters, we cannot emphasize strongly enough how vital it is for families to plan in advance how they will get out of their homes in case of fire,” Fullerton Fire Chief Steve Magliocco said.

The National Fire Protection Assn. developed the “Great Escape” in response to results from its 1997 home escape survey, which showed that only 16% of respondents who had escape plans actually practiced them. These fire drills are efforts to change that, association officials said.

For further information on fire escape planning and year-round fire prevention in Fullerton, call (714) 738-6500. In Anaheim, call (714) 765-4069.