Firefighters to hold open house

It’s Fire Prevention Week 2009, and the Laguna Beach Fire Department will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and also mark National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend.

Community members are invited to visit your local fire station and meet firefighters, tour the station and fire engine, and find out how to be fire safe.

“Stay Fire Smart — Don’t Get Burned” is the theme for Fire Prevention Week 2009.

Firefighters are reminding parents to test the water before putting a child in the bath, and urging cooks to wear short or close-fitting sleeves when using the stove top, as two “common sense” ways to avoid getting burned.

In addition, firefighters are marking National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend

The National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Department of Homeland Security’s U.S. Fire Administration will mark the 28th annual National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend, today through Sunday.

A plaque with the names of 103 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2008 will be added to the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial, on the National Fire Academy campus in Emmitsburg, Md.

The names of 19 firefighters who died in previous years will also be added.

The memorial, which was established in 1981, will contain the names of more than 3,300 firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.

In Laguna Beach, flags will be flown at half staff on Sunday at all four fire stations in honor of the fallen firefighters.