By Jake BOWMAN

The Glendale Fire Dept. was the place to be on Saturday when families and those interested in fire safety visited the department for fire service day. The annual event offers a chance for members of the fire department to thank the public for its support, reflecting the fire department’s motto of “community first.”

“It’s a day when we get to give back to the community for their support, for their trust in us and for everything that we get to do for them every day,” said Fire Chief Silvio Lanzas.

There were an estimated 800 people who attended the event on Saturday at the main station on Oak Street. The day started with a pancake breakfast prepared by the fire chief and his command staff. Visitors enjoyed a rock climbing wall and face painting and learned about a wide range of fire equipment. Of course, for many of the folks in attendance, the main attraction was the fire trucks! There were plenty of trucks to see and for people to have pictures taken with, including antique trucks and a new 107 ft. aerial ladder truck.

Education was a big part of the event and there were live demonstrations showcasing situations the fire department encounters.

“We did a full vehicle extrication demonstration, which is when somebody is trapped in a vehicle and we use the jaws of life to extricate that person from the vehicle,” explained Lanzas.

The police department was there as well to help educate and give back to the community. The SWAT team and K-9 unit were on-site showcasing some equipment used every day to save lives.

The event has been going on for over 20 years and is something community members look forward to every year, said Lanzas. There were several information booths, including a hands-only CPR booth where firefighters taught CPR – something the department is encouraging now.

“It’s called sidewalk CPR and is a chance for any person to get hands-only CPR training on our ‘patients,’” he said. The patients are the department’s CPR mannequins.

The event provided not only a day of fun and education, but was a potential job opportunity as well. Each year, young boys and girls get to experience a small part of what it’s like to work as a firefighter or paramedic and many times they grow up to work within the service industry. One of the current firefighters/paramedics working with the Glendale Fire Dept. started as a cadet working and coming to the fire service day events. He has now been with the department for 12 years.

“It was a very special day, the weather was perfect and we had an unbelievable turnout,” Lanzas said.

  Jake BOWMAN