El Centro fire department to host annual open house

In celebration of fire prevention week the El Centro fire department will be hosting their 100 year annual open house.

EL CENTRO. Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - The City of El Centro is hosting its annual Fire Department Open House from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, October 8, 2022.

It's the hundred year the el Centro fire department is working to reduce the risk of fire accidents.

That will be the message during their upcoming open house this weekend.
Firefighters say they're excited to bring it back in person… After having to cancel it for three years due to covid.

You'll get to meet the department's five new firefighters. There will also be a simulator for children to help save them from a fire.

“In order to make this the safest possible environment for our citizens we reach them through public education," said Robert Gonzalez, Public information officer for el Centro fire department.

According to NFPA data, home, the place people feel safest from fire, is actually where they are at greatest risk, with three-quarters (74 percent) of all U.S. fire deaths occurring in homes. When a home fire does occur, it’s more likely to be serious; people are more likely to die in a home fire today than they were in 1980.

According to interim fire chef, Cedric Cesena there was been an increase of numbers this year than last.

“We are over 4,000 calls for the city of El Centro which its actually in line with us exceeding the number of calls we received last year," said Cesena.

Gonzalez encourages parents to talk to their children about the dangers of fire.

"Just for one week throughout the week do some prevention look throughout your home and teach your children how to be safe," said Gonzalez.