Law enforcement agencies and community groups had the chance to mingle with the public and share information during the Aug. 4 National Night Out event in Poway.
Held outside the sheriff’s station on Bowron Road, the annual event attracted a sizable crowd.
Julie Gallant
A law enforcement officer with the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail, left, showed off his gear to deputies during National Night Out. (Julie Gallant)
Julie Gallant
Poway Emergency Manager Jenna Stein, left, shares emergency preparedness information with sheriff’s deputies. (Julie Gallant)
Julie Gallant
Volunteers Brian Tagg, left, and Terri Sorensen distributed a “Homeowner’s Guide to Defensible Space” on behalf of the Poway Neighborhood Emergency Corps and the Poway Fire Safe Council. (Julie Gallant)
Julie Gallant
Sheriff’s Volunteer Mounted Patrol representatives Rosalie Crawford, left, and Pauline Rivera, center, talked about their volunteer services with Poway City Council member Anita Edmondson. (Julie Gallant)
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Julie Gallant
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A law enforcement officer with the sheriff’s Special Enforcement Detail, left, showed off his gear to deputies during National Night Out. (Julie Gallant)
Vehicles used to fight crimes and respond to emergencies were on display, but perhaps more importantly, the public was given notice of Basic Emergency Preparedness workshops.
The Poway Fire Department will present these free workshops on Saturday, Sept. 19 and Wednesday, Sept. 23 at the Poway City Council Chambers, 13325 Civic Center Drive.
During the workshops, information will be shared about wildfires because that is Poway’s “biggest hazard,” said Jenna Stein, the city’s emergency manager. But details will also be shared about where to get emergency-related information, having an evacuation plan for home fires and being prepared for an earthquake, Stein said.
“We’ll also be giving out informational materials about how to prevent a fire in a home and about smoke detector placement and maintenance,” she said. “It’s best to sleep with the bedroom doors closed because it would take longer for heat and smoke to enter. We want early notification because you have about three minutes to get out of the house safely.”
Related information was shared by the Poway Neighborhood Emergency Corps and the Poway Fire Safe Council. The PNEC is a network of neighbors helping neighbors during emergencies. The nonprofit is focused on disaster preparedness education. Fire Safe Councils throughout California educate homeowners about community wildfire preparedness activities while working with local fire officials on projects that increase the wildfire survivability of their communities.
The organizations were distributing a “Homeowner’s Guide to Defensible Space” that included details about ornamental vegetation maintenance.
Julie Gallant
Presenting information about the Poway Boys & Girls Club activities and after-school program are, from left, Jordan Cooke, Diederich Garrity-Tsunoda and Carrie Garrity. (Julie Gallant)
Julie Gallant
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office was busy giving out crimefighting materials during National Night Out. (Julie Gallant)
Julie Gallant
Law enforcement vehicles were on display for visitors during National Night Out in Poway. (Julie Gallant)
Julie Gallant
Marc Barca, a city of Poway park ranger, gave out trail maps and showed a stuffed long-tailed weasel and western spotted skunk during National Night Out. (Julie Gallant)
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Julie Gallant
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Presenting information about the Poway Boys & Girls Club activities and after-school program are, from left, Jordan Cooke, Diederich Garrity-Tsunoda and Carrie Garrity. (Julie Gallant)
Terri Sorensen, president of the PNEC, said a new program underway in coordination with the Fire Safe Council and the Poway Fire Department are home ignition zone assessments in the city of Poway. The assessments will help residents identify their home’s vulnerabilities and will make recommendations for improvements.
“A set of volunteers through the fire department will, if asked, come out to a person’s home and do a walkaround while taking pictures and notes,” Sorensen said. “Those will be added to a report with recommendations on how the homeowners can improve their fire resistance.”
The goal of this confidential program is to help people better understand the wildfire hazard and take practical steps toward reducing their risk and making their property safer, organizers said.
More information about the program is available at PowayNEC.com/HIZassessment.
Some non-emergency information being distributed at National Night Out included notices about two upcoming events at Old Poway Park, 14134 Midland Road.
A Horseless Carriage Car Show is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. Attendees can step back in time and experience the elegance of the early 1900s with a showcase of Edwardian-style motorcars.
The other is a Rendezvous in Poway event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3 and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 4.
“Experience America when it was young,” states a flier. “Watch history come to life at Old Poway Park.”
Sheriff’s Volunteer Mounted Patrol representatives Rosalie Crawford and Pauline Rivera brought their horse named Amarillo to promote their activities.
The mounted patrol volunteers generally patrol the city’s trails and weekly farmers markets to make sure people are following the rules, Crawford said. They also monitor activity around the perimeter of the rodeo and at parades, she said.
“Each horse has to pass a test so they are good with cars and loud noises,” Crawford said.