Fire Drill with a Western Twist
Fire drills are a mandatory procedure for nearly every business establishment, but here at PCD we don’t think they need to be all about evacuations and assembly lines. So to kick it up a notch we used the important safety drill as an excuse to throw a party! And for the eighth year running, Paramount Contractors and Developers turned a typically mundane task into a Western-style BBQ showdown in appreciation of its tenants, staff and friends at 6464 and 6565 Sunset. On Friday, October 15 after everyone was safely evacuated from the building and gathered in the rear parking lot, tenants were greeted to a refreshing outdoor setting to enjoy a luncheon feast and mingle with friends, co-workers and fellow tenants.
Just as we had hoped, everyone enjoyed an afternoon of good food and great company.
“I think PCD’s annual fire drill event is fabulous because you have a feeling of safety as a tenant,” explains Esther Shapiro.
“This is a very well run establishment, and one of the nicest things about the building is they are meticulous about things like this. Plus, the owners are quite generous to throw us a BBQ in appreciation of everyone’s cooperation.” “The event is always very well organized and having the fire department present is very helpful,” adds Esther.
In addition to all the 6464 and 6565 Sunset tenants, LAFD were also in attendance and on hand to coordinate the drill while also demonstrating important fire safety procedures such as the proper handling of a fire extinguisher.
Fellow tenant, Dolores Moran, was equally impressed with the event.
“The fire drill event is awesome! I have been here every year,” explains Dolores. “It’s so nice for the owners of the building to thank their tenants, and I think combining the safety aspect of the fire drill with the BBQ is a great idea.”
As always, building owner, Brian Folb was in high spirits about the evacuation and thrilled with this year’s turnout.
“The idea for our annual event is to get as many of our tenants to participate in the drill as possible because God forbid there is an actual emergency and immediate evacuation needs to occur,” explains Brian.
“It’s understandable why some businesses don’t want to disrupt their day by having to participate in a fire drill and the reality is at most properties people simply avoid it. But at PCD we feel these practices are very important and it helps to avoid potential injuries or serious injuries if we actually do have a disaster. By hosting a tenant appreciation lunch in conjunction with the fire drill we give our tenants an incentive to participate, and this year we had a great turnout!”
Unlike many other business properties in Hollywood, Brian insists it is imperative for PCD to show their appreciation to their loyal tenants and adds that having a BBQ is a great opportunity for tenants to mingle and get to know each other better. It’s also an opportunity for the PCD community to connect with the greater community of Hollywood, including the Hollywood Chamber staff and Sunset & Vine BID who were also present at the drill.
“One of my mantras is to try my best to create ways for our building community to connect with the general community of Hollywood,” explains Brian. “So I invite the Hollywood Chamber staff, the staff of the Business Improvement District & our Hollywood district City council members (Tom LaBonge & Eric Garcetti) to our event so our tenants can see our involvement and connection with the community here in Hollywood, because we are not just a building community.”
“This is where we work, live and play,” he adds. “That is one of the statements we use for our revitalized Hollywood community now, so it’s important to me that people have an opportunity to connect in that way. And by doing an event like this, we can allow this kind of interaction to occur. It’s interesting and somewhat unfortunate to see how a lot of people work in large buildings and don’t have opportunities to get to know each other. It’s important to me that PCD is not just about separate companies, but rather about people and when people get the chance to interact, great things can happen.”
With PCD taking unique steps towards safety and camaraderie in our building, it’s clear that we set ourselves apart from the rest. But none of this would be possible without the innovative approach from PCD’s Grace Robles, who has been organizing our Fire Safety Program for over a decade as the Fire and Safety Director in our building.
“When I first started doing this 11 years ago, we didn’t have much tenant participation at all,” explains Grace. “People wouldn’t come into work or wouldn’t stay in the building during the drill, so I came up with an idea of how we can get them somewhat motivated to stick around and listen to speakers like the Fire Department.
“The BBQ has become a great way to give everybody a chance to meet their fellow tenants and their neighbors. And it’s our thank-you for their participation and for their tenancy, which makes it a give-give, win-win situation for everyone to have a fun afternoon rather than a boring, ‘Okay, let’s get out of the building.”
“We want everyone to be prepared in case of an emergency and by bringing this program to our tenants we are able educate them on what to do in case something were to happen. You can’t prevent panic, but at least if you know what to do, you are more prepared.”
In the past PCD has combined the fire drill evacuation with themed events such as Hawaiian luaus, Mexican fiestas and a Brazilian carnival, and this year’s Western theme!
