Emergency 911 center offers tours, fun for kids

Clark County’s 911 center will open its doors to the public Saturday, and families can meet dispatchers, firefighters, police officers, rescue dogs and horses.

The annual open house and gathering of emergency responders, which also is an observance of 9/11 Day, runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 710 W. 13th St. in downtown Vancouver.

Families can watch 911 dispatchers taking active calls and see demonstrations provided by K-9 units, SWAT members and search-and-rescue groups.

Free snacks will be offered and activities for children will include coloring, making buttons and free ID kits

Visitors also can check out an armored SWAT vehicle, paramedic ambulances, police command vehicles and fire department trucks, including one that carries heavy-rescue equipment used by specially trained firefighters in cliff and water rescues.

Also there to answer questions will be folks from the National Weather Service, Homeland Security, county mapping and amateur radio groups that help in large emergencies.