NBFD hosts annual Fire Service Day to launch Fire Prevention Week

The men and women of the Newport Beach Fire Department hosted their annual Fire Service Day, a firehouse tradition spanning over three decades that draws 500-600 people each year. The family-friendly event prepared community members for Fire Prevention Week, which runs through Oct. 10, with demonstrations and educational activities.

Fire Prevention Week, proclaimed as a national observance in 1925 by President Calvin Coolidge, is the longest-running public health observance in the United States. The week of observation is in commemoration of the Great Chicago Fire, which began on Oct. 8, 1871, and caused the deaths of more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures, and burned more than 2,000 acres of land.

According to the National Fire Protection Assn., Fire Prevention Week is meant to educate children, adults and teachers on how to stay safe in case of a fire by having firefighters provide lifesaving public education in an effort to drastically decrease casualties caused by fires.

Newport Beach firefighters and paramedics reenact lifesaving efforts in a car crash demonstration, cutting open the cars and using tools such as the jaws of life to save passengers inside during Fire Service Day on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2026. (Elizabeth Carroll) In Newport Beach, locals braved the unusual heatwave to play games, explore the firehouse, eat a free meal and watch live demonstrations. This year, attendees watched as firefighters did a demonstration of rescuing two trapped drivers from a car crash, utilizing the jaws of life and other life-saving machinery, as well as climbing a two-story building while simultaneously putting out a house fire, all of which are based on real calls and rescues done by the Newport firefighters.

“The demos are always my favorite part, just because it’s a chance for the public to see what it is that we train and do on the job,” said Swisher, who took a leading role in helping organize the day’s events.

From the stands, the families watched in awe; eyes were glued to the scene as sudden excited trills were heard from the young children in the crowd while fire exploded and the hoses were on full blast.

“They’re all just in awe of the fire service, and it’s really special, because we all grew up looking to be firefighters when [we] grew up, so it’s kind of like I’m reliving what I saw when I was a kid,” Gibson said. “You’re seeing your dream come true and then hopefully inspiring the next generation.”

NBFD lifeguards show families and young children how to perform CPR in cases of emergency during Fire Service Day at Newport Beach Fire Department Station 7. (Elizabeth Carroll) “He’s a big fan of fire trucks and firefighters and anything rescue,” said Michael Finnerty, who came to the event with his 4-year-old son, Mathis. “I think it’s cool to come here and allow him to kind of go in and engage with the fire department here as a good role model for him.”

— Carroll is a contributor to the Daily Pilot.

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