Fire expos

FIRE EXPOS DRAW HEATED INTEREST AMONG AREA RESIDENTS

By Miriam Raftery

Photos by Leon Thompson and Miriam Raftery

October 15, 2009 (San Diego’s East County) – Fire safety expos were among the hottest attractions in East County recently, drawing thousands of visitors—all as part of National Fire Prevention Month.  In our region, which was devastasted by two of our state's worst wildfires in 2003 and 2007, it's clear that people take fire protection seriously--while also enjoying some free family fun at these extensive events.
 

“How fast can it go?” one child asked Barry Links, rescue medic with San Diego Fire Rescue, while clambering into a rescue helicopter at the Viejas Commumity Center. (Answer: 140 knotts, or 165 mph.) Links also demonstrated a hoist used in canyon rescues and showed how the vehicle can also suck up water from lakes “like a straw” to help dowse fires.


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