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Crime & Safety

Police and Fire to Open Their Houses Again

After a break because of budget woes, the event featuring equipment demonstrations and tours will return Saturday.

After a two-year hiatus due to budget cuts, the open house hosted by the Manhattan Beach Police and Fire departments will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at their Valley Drive station.

More than 20 police and fire volunteers will offer show-and-tells of their day-to-day work. Firefighters will be dressed in full gear and will use hoses to put out a simulated fire, said Fire Battalion Chief Frank Chiella.

The mayor, along with the police and fire chiefs, will be addressing those in attendance at 11:15 a.m.

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Other activities include a walkthrough of the police and fire station, a viewing of the mobile command van and a tour of the city jail. 

The police department will also display the SWAT team's robot tank, a remote-controlled machine that can maneuver up curbs and stairs to snap photos of potentially hostile locations.

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Sept. 11 is an ideal day for the open house, said Officer Stephanie Martin. Outside the fire station, two red steel beams recovered from the World Trade Center site jut into the sky, a tribute to the heroism of those who died that day in 2001.

On Saturday, locals will have an opportunity to mark the anniversary of 9/11 by getting to know the police officers and firefighters who serve their neighborhood.

The event has proven popular with the community, according to Martin.

"Kids love it," she said. "We invite kids from all the schools. Everyone comes to see the jail tour and they love crawling around the fire truck."

Members from Neighborhood Watch, the Community Emergency Response Team and other public safety groups will also be available to answer questions. Food will not be provided as in years past.

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