The Santa Monica Fire Department is hosting its annual open house today. Members of the public are invited to Station No. 5, — 2450 Ashland Avenue, near Clover Park — from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Free pancakes will be served in the morning and fire fighters will put on demonstrations at 10:30 a.m.
Fire officials will show how they rescue people from wrecked cars using the “Jaws of Life.” They’ll also extinguish a real car fire and rappel to the ground from the top of a 100-foot ladder.
Everything from the department’s fire engines to tools used every day on the job by fire fighters will be on display. Fire fighters will be on hand to answer questions from the public and talk about the equipment they use to battle blazes.
If that isn’t enough, Sparky the Fire Dog will be there too.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 11, 2002. Read the original PDF.