Fire Department Open House To Be Held Close to Witch Creek Fire Anniversary

October is Fire Prevention Safety Month and here in Ramona, the importance of such prevention is unlike any other.

This weekend will mark the fifth anniversary of the 2007 Witch Creek Fire. Cal Fire announced and stressed at last week's water board meeting Saturday's Fire Department Open House.

"We encourage the public to come see up close the tools we use, ask questions," Cal Fire Battalion Chief Saul Villagomez said.

Annually, the Ramona Fire Department holds an open house during fire prevention week, which was ran from Oct. 7-13. This year, the open house will be held on Oct. 20, a day before the five-year anniversary mark of the Witch Creek Fire.

Ramona Station 80, located at 829 San Vicente Road, will host the open house from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Residents are invited to come see the various fire equipment used by our firefighters and learn valuable fire prevention and emergency information.

"We partner with our local burn institute with a trailer to teach the kids how not to be afraid and how to roll out of bed," Villagomez said. "We do a lot of teaching there to those younger folks."

Ramonans will also get a chance to ask questions to emergency service professionals and to bring a camera to capture the action. There will be Mexican food for purchase, music and the Ramona Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) will be available.

Ramona water board President Bryan Wadlington also encourage the community to visit the open house at Station 80.

"I can tell you the public really enjoys these," Wadlington said at the Oct. 9 board meeting. "The children often walk in very wide-eyed at the men and trucks... I encourage everyone to attend."