DIXON, CA (MPG) - The trucks have been polished, the long hoses have been rolled neatly, and the fire hats have been hung with care. Now, the City of Dixon Fire Department is ready for the public to join them in marking its 151st anniversary alongside Fire Prevention Week with an open house on Saturday, October 15 at Fire Station 81 on Ford Way.

This week’s theme is ‘Fire Won’t Wait.’ It helps plan your escape and emphasizes how we must all prepare fire escape plans, test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms every month and replace them every 10 years, implement appropriate building codes, and when possible, install residential fire sprinklers, according to a government source.

“We hope the community will help us celebrate and come out to our interactive open house to learn more about fire safety and prevention, as drought and fire dangers continue to grow more severe,” said Dixon Fire Chief Todd McNeal.

Established in 1871, the Dixon Fire Department has a long tradition of serving and protecting the Dixon community. That tradition continues today with a full range of emergency services offered 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

The Department serves a combined population of nearly 25,000 covering an area of 320 square miles. Seven square miles of service area are within the city limits and 313 are in the Dixon Fire Protection District through a protection contract. The Department provides fire protection, paramedic level emergency medical response, fire prevention services, public fire safety education, fire investigations, and emergency management.

The open house will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m at the Dixon Fire Department, 205 Ford Way, behind Ron DuPratt Ford in Dixon. The event will include safety demonstrations and children’s activities.

There will be opportunity for children to touch firefighting gear, handle hoses and even spray water. Medical helicopters will be on display as well as ambulances and law enforcement vehicles.

Public safety and preparedness planning information and tools will be made available, too.

There will be refreshments for the attendees. You won’t want to miss meeting Dixon’s firefighters, either!