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Santa Paula Firefighter Milo Bustillos points out signage on a fire door to Fire Chief Rick Arazia. The Santa Paulan Senior apartments held a fire drill to make sure the facility was fire safe. (Photo by Debbie Johnson) |
Santa Paulan: Senior residents flee from fire - during emergency drill
November 26, 2010
By Peggy Kelly
Santa Paula News
Residents of the Santa Paulan Senior Apartments got a taste of trouble when they had to evacuate their building due to a fire, but it was all a drill. B. Samantha Frady organized the November 15 exercise with support and guidance from the Santa Paula Fire Department.
“We rounded up some volunteers” for the emergency drill at the 150-unit apartment complex where Frady is a resident. But what she didn’t expect was the full-blown response from the Santa Paula Fire Department: “They brought two engines, and Chief Rick Araiza and Assistant Chief Kevin Fildes were also there” for the first drill held at the three-story complex located on Santa Barbara and 4th streets.
Frady, a longtime Red Cross instructor, CERT graduate and former Citizens Patrol member, said about 70 people - approximately half the residents - took part in the drill. “It went as well as it could go with a senior place... I think we did pretty good,” said Frady, who has been teaching classes to other residents and noted, “I have this stuff drilled in my brain!”
She has prepared emergency preparedness lists for her neighbors, and urged them to have emergency supplies on hand including those stashed in an easy to grab backpack. One result of the drill showed “that we need to learn stairwell etiquette, let those who are faster on their feet down the steps first so they get help to come back to you.”
When it came to participation Frady noted, “To get that many to come out of the building was a coup.... We had them evacuate to the clubhouse, but they know in a true emergency they would go out to 4th Street,” well away from the complex.
The main thing, she added, “Is to understand that you have to get out of the building,” a reality Frady has experienced herself in fires. “There’s quite a diverse group that lives here,” including the elderly who reacted well to the drill.
Santa Paula Fire Department personnel did an assessment of the drill, as well as what must be done in the future for safety. “They turned on the alarms,” oversaw the evacuation, and then answered residents’ questions at the clubhouse following the drill.
“Chief Araiza was very glad they came, it gave them a better insight of people who live here that are disabled.... Captain Steve Lazenby created an evacuation plan six years ago,” and Frady said more interaction with emergency responders is planned. A major goal of the drill was “hopefully, making all seniors more aware, to be prepared for whatever emergency might come up.”
Frady said working with the fire and police departments to encourage the Door Hanger program and Vials of Life - medical and prescription information attached to the refrigerator door in case of an emergency call - have been embraced by Santa Paulan residents. “I think the residents really appreciate the dedicated emergency personnel we have here in town... I’ve worked with them for years and am well aware of how dedicated they are. They work hard at their jobs and are pretty nice in the bargain,” said Frady, who volunteers at the SPPD Station in the records department.
The drill lasted approximately two hours, including the Q & A session.
“I got a good night’s sleep thinking that maybe that exercise could help save one person’s life... Chief Araiza wants to star doing regular drills here.” And Frady said one thing is obvious: “It takes a village to pull these things off, and we have a lot of nice volunteers at the Santa Paulan.”
