- Lake County News reports
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Wildfire Safety Expo partners in fire safety
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. – With the weather warming up and fire season here, residents recently took advantage of an opportunity to learn about being prepared.
Wildland fire awareness, prevention and safety was the theme of the day for the fourth annual Wildfire Safety Expo held at Kelseyville Lumber on Saturday, May 18.
The Lake County Fire Safe Council, local fire protection districts, Bureau of Land Management, Cal Fire and the United States Forest Service, along with other agencies and vendors all cooperated in what proved to be an informative day for approximately 500 local homeowners and their children.
The fire departments showed off an array of firefighting tools, including a live-fire training trailer, a variety of wildland fire suppression engines, local fire district engines and the emergency support unit.
Kelseyville Lumber, a strong supporter of the expo and local community events, generously donated the use of their facility for the event. They even helped inflate balloons for the kids.
An assortment of booths provided materials about the good and the bad that can come from a wildfire.
There was information about landscaping, fire resistant plants, hardening homes, emergency check lists, animal evacuation, and services to protect your home if damaged by fire.
Residents also learned about the local ham radio operators and the role they and agencies like the Red Cross play in emergency situations.
At the expo, homeowners were able see how they could help protect their homes in case of a wildfire and what tools are available to do the job.
Local fuel reduction companies had their equipment on display and were available for questions by interested residents.
One of the highlights held throughout the day were live fire demonstration by the local fire departments.
Another was when CALSTAR landed their brand new helicopter and demonstrated their coordination with the fire districts during emergency operations.
Officers from Lake County Animal Care & Control were on hand to talk about the Lake Evacuation and Animal Protection (L.E.A.P.) group, which helped with animal evacuation during the 2012 fire season.
University of California Cooperative Extensioni master gardeners, Pacific Gas and Electric and the Natural Resources Conservation Service were all on hand to give advice about fire safe landscaping and plants.
Smokey Bear was a prominent figure throughout the day and children enjoyed the bounce house, sponsored by the Lake County Fire Chiefs’ Association, and overseen by Sparky the Fire Dog.
Members of the Cobb Mountain and Blue Heron 4-H groups, along with students from Lower Lake High School’s “Kids Club,” assisted with the children enjoying the bounce house.
The “Firewise Community” trailer was also on hand at the event. This education campaign is designed to encourage neighbors to work together to do the work necessary to keep their neighborhoods and properties fire safe.
The Wildfire Safety Expo provided adults and children with the opportunity to get up-close and personal with firefighting equipment and the personnel that protect them during the state's wildfire season.
The event provided residents with the information they need to create defensible space around their properties, and provide firefighters with a safer environment as they strive to protect lives and property during California's dangerous fire seasons.
All participating partners say they're ready to do it again next year, with even more activities and information available in 2014.