Community Corner

Murrieta Makes a Splash With City Birthday Bash

Attendees of the City of Murrieta's 22nd Birthday Bash Saturday got relief from the heat during the Firemen's Hosedown, a tradition at the event.

Triple-digit temperatures did not keep thousands of residents from hitting the park Saturday to celebrate Murrieta’s 22nd year of cityhood.

Extended families and friends began spreading out their blankets and lawn chairs under portable canopies and trees as the Birthday Bash festivities kicked off at 2 p.m. at California Oaks Sports Park.

Murrieta resident Teresa Villarreal sat watching her grandchildren and nephews take in the festivities that included carnival rides, games and the popular Firemen’s Hosedown. Her clothes were damp, she explained, because unlike years past she joined the crowd to cool down under giant spouts of waters coming from Murrieta firefighters’ hoses.

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“We got wet this year,” Villarreal said. “Usually I don’t get wet. But today is like ‘yes, you need to get wet.’”

Murrieta City Councilman Randon Lane also cooled off under the water with his two sons, Randon, 9, and Joshua, 5.

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“I have seen more adults out here today than I’ve ever seen in the past,” said Lane, as one of his sons dragged him back to get wet again.

The hosedown became tradition not long after the city began holding the large-scale birthday bash 13 years ago, according to Murrieta fire Battalion Chief Pat Jennings.

“The first or second year, this was started by Capt. Larry Reeves,” Jennings said. “We would come down for first-aid standby, and as we would stand over by the back fence we started hosing down kids to keep them cool and just for the fun of it.”

It became such a success that it was added to the docket, he said.

On Saturday, firefighters hooked up their lines to a nearby hydrant. Then water started shooting from a 75-foot ladder attached to a fire engine as well as from two hoses manned by firefighters on the ground.

Those standing nearby but not directly in the path of the water, such as Lea Kolek, a senior management analyst for the city, were grateful to catch a little of the mist.

“The heat I think staved people off a little bit,” Kolek said. “This is the hottest birthday bash we’ve had probably in five years.”

But city officials expected the crowd to pick up later in the day, in time for the fireworks show to begin at 9 p.m.

It was all worth it, Councilman Lane said.

“This is something we really push to have,” Lane said. “It started with hotdogs and hamburgers 22 years ago and now we’ve got live bands and all this. We’ve gone through tough budget times but we’ve balanced our budget, so there’s certain things we want to continue to do to keep our community feel and this is one of them.”

Many Murrieta residents, such as Angelica Bribiesca, were happy to help the city celebrate. Bribiesca, whose husband is a firefighter for Riverside County, brought her sons, one a 3-year-old and the other a newborn.

“This is so good for my 3-year-old to be here to see the Murrieta firefighters showing their love for the kids and the community,” Bribiesca said, as she watched her son run in and out of the hosedown area.

“It’s awesome. Happy Birthday, Murrieta, and we love living here.”


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