Lake Country residents looking for something fun, educational, and community-focused this weekend can check out FireSmart Day and Open House.
The event is Saturday (May 24) from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Station 71 in Winfield (11063 Okanagan Centre Road East).
This free, family-friendly event is a great way to connect with your local firefighters, explore the newly updated fire hall, and pick up some potentially life-saving tips on wildfire preparedness.
There鈥檚 plenty to see and do. Kids can try their hand at operating a real fire hose, knock down targets with a water stream, and even test their strength on the Keiser Forcible Entry Machine鈥攋ust like the pros. The Fire Safety House offers a fun, interactive way to practice emergency exit drills, and there鈥檚 hands-on fire extinguisher training.
The Lake Country Rotary Club will be serving free hot dogs, while supplies last, and don鈥檛 miss the chance to snap a photo with Sparky the Fire Dog and check out the impressive lineup of fire engines, the Marine Rescue Boat, and the Wildfire Sprinkler Protection Trailer.
Experts will be on hand at the FireSmart Info Booth to talk about simple, effective steps residents can take to make their homes more resilient to wildfires. There is also information on emergency preparedness, smoke alarms, and evacuation planning.
Representatives from BC Ambulance, Bylaw Services, RCMP, Central Okanagan Search and Rescue, and the Salvation Army will share insights into their roles and how they support the community during emergencies. You can also learn about the Regional Emergency Program and ALERT (Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team).
There is also the opportunity to chat with Lake Country firefighters about becoming a paid-on-call member. They are currently recruiting for all three stations in Winfield, Oyama, and Carr鈥檚 Landing.
