The Riverside County Fire Department/CAL FIRE Lake Elsinore team hosted its first Firefighter BBQ on May 2 at Launch Pointe.
The event included live demonstrations, free food, games and activities, while giving the community a chance to interact with local firefighters. Division Chief Dustin Reed said the idea for the event came together months ago.
“We started planning this event back in October, November,” Reed said. “It was an idea of wanting to give back to the community and the citizens of Lake Elsinore.”
Reed said the goal was also shaped by the kinds of community events he remembers growing up.
“I was used to going to pancake breakfasts, Firefighters with Santa, Toys for Tots,” he said. “So, what I wanted to do was strengthen community events with the fire department again, bringing community members in and introducing them to public safety. Then, hopefully in the future, 20 years down the road, we’re going to see these young little kids riding on the big red fire engine.”
Reed said organizers also used the event to raise money through a 50/50 raffle benefiting the Burn Institute, a nonprofit that supports burn survivors and prevention programs.
For some families, the event quickly became a weekend highlight.
“My oldest daughter is 3 years old, obsessed with fire trucks, and we thought it would be a good family event,” said Lake Elsinore resident Cynthia Acevedo. “It turns out we were right. It’s awesome.”
She said the atmosphere stood out.
“Everybody’s friendly here,” she said. “We got greeted at the gate and it was a good vibe all around.”
Other attendees said the event created a stronger sense of community.
“It’s a great community. We come here as a family and even with friends,” said Lake Elsinore resident Jasmine McGee. “We want to come together and have a great time.”
McGee said her family came out because of the event’s close location, and her daughter, who wants to become a firefighter, enjoyed interacting with crews.
“To see the reactions and encouragement, I really like that,” McGee said.
The event also included an educational component focused on fire safety and emergency preparedness. Mitchell Andrews, a member of the Fire Explorers program, said this event helps connect people with those resources.
“Events like this are important just to get the city together, spread awareness for different things like fire safety and just increase morale,” Andrews said.
Emergency Services Manager Ralph Mesa shared preparedness information with attendees at his booth and encouraged residents to have a plan in place before a crisis.
“We try to educate residents in emergency preparedness,” he said. “I also do community emergency response training, teaching them about emergency preparedness, home preparedness, and what to do in an emergency situation.”
A highlight of the event was the “Jaws of Life” demonstration, which showed how firefighters rescue people from vehicles after a crash.
Reed said demonstrations like this help the public better understand the work firefighters do.
“We’re here to help 24/7,” he said. “It’s not just about running 911 calls. It’s about giving back to the community and supporting them.”
Reed hopes the event becomes an annual tradition.
“I hope it goes on for many years,” he said.
