Putting on a show

Bryce Alderton

Eyes and mouths open wide and heads shaking excitedly, children sat on

their fathers’ shoulders as the fire engine -- with sirens blaring --

drove up to the fire raging just across the street.

Thankfully though, the fire was planned and extinguished within a few

minutes as Newport Beach firefighters, dressed in their yellow

flame-retardant suits, stormed the burning set to show the hundreds

gathered just how fast a fire can race through a room.

The stunt was part of Newport Beach’s annual Public Safety Day, which

educates the public about the services the city’s police and fire

departments provide.

Henry de Koeyer, 9, of Laguna Hills stood just behind the yellow

caution tape that separated him from the firefighters and the flaming

building. He scampered over to his father, Richard, after firefighters

extinguished the blaze.

“It was cool, but I was getting hot. I was sweating just after a few

seconds,” Henry said. “I had to start moving back.”

The flames let off an enormous amount of heat, causing watchers to

turn away. Temperatures can soar to more than 2,000 degrees in a

contained room like the one set on fire Sunday.

Henry’s brother, John, also witnessed the fire demonstration and said

it and sitting in the fire engine were his favorite parts of the day.

Opinions varied about the favorite thing to see or do Sunday. For

some, it was spraying water from a fire hose while others enjoyed sitting

in a fire engine or rappelling against the side of a building. However,

it didn’t matter as the day was about showing appreciation for the fire

and police departments and giving the children a chance to see what the

departments do on on a daily basis.

Kristian Baye, who works for the 121st Basic Fire Academy at Santa Ana

College, was asked to volunteer and help kids get up in the fire engine.

“It’s rewarding to interact with the community and seeing the kids get

excited,” Baye said. “It’s huge for [the kids]. They’ll remember it for a

long time.”

* Bryce Alderton is the news assistant. He may be reached at (949)

574-4298 or by e-mail at o7 bryce.alderton@latimes.comf7 .