Fire prevention takes center stage in Downtown SLO event

The San Luis Obispo community turned out for National Fire Prevention Week, transforming the downtown Farmers’ Market into an educational hub focused on fire safety awareness.

The Oct. 10 event, which ran from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Higuera Street, featured firefighters from across SLO County. They demonstrated safety equipment and provided tours of their fire trucks.

“It’s fire prevention week, so what we like to do is educate everyone, students of all ages, about preventing fires and fire safety as a whole,” Public Information Officer for Cal Fire, Toni Davis, said. “Preventing wildfires is one thing, but we also teach kids what to do if their clothes catch on fire.”

The family-friendly event emphasized three key safety measures: installing smoke alarms in every bedroom and on all home levels, conducting monthly alarm tests, and replacing alarms after 10 years or if they fail testing.

Engineering sophomore Wesley Martel participated in an active fire safety simulation, and described the experience as educational.

“I really enjoyed the primal adrenaline from hitting the wall,” Martel said. “I think it was a good experience.”

The event resonated particularly with some attendees who had personal experiences with house fires. Florence Lorie, a visitor to the area, shared her story of a dryer fire in her home.

“My husband pulled the cord out of the wall for the dryer and we got out of the house,” Lorie said. “Then the fire department came and used their hoses and pretty much flooded the house.”

Local firefighters emphasized that fire prevention requires year-round vigilance, not just during Fire Prevention Week. They encouraged residents to visit readyforwildfire.org or fire.ca.gov for additional fire safety information and local fire department contacts.