Here's Why Police, Fire Engine Sirens Will Blare Dec. 18 In Murrieta, Temecula, Wildomar

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Public safety agencies throughout Riverside County will deploy emergency vehicles to roll by nearly two dozen hospitals, with lights and sirens activated, Wednesday and Thursday for the annual "Operation Holiday Cheer," saluting medical workers and patients.

"Participating agencies will gather outside local hospitals, filling parking lots with lights, sirens and holiday cheer to show appreciation to their fellow first responders and bring smiles to patients needing a little extra holiday spirit," according to a statement released by the Peace Officers Research Association of California, which has organized the events since 2020.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department, along with municipal law enforcement agencies and local fire departments, are slated to join the rolling fest, beginning at 10:30 a.m. and concluding by 4 p.m. Wednesday. The operation will then resume at 11 a.m. Thursday and continue until nearly 8 that night, organizers said.

The following facilities will be visited at the times confirmed below Wednesday:

-- John F. Kennedy Memorial Hospital, Indio, 10:30 a.m.;
-- Eisenhower Health, Rancho Mirage, 11:45 a.m.;
-- Desert Regional Medical Center, Palm Springs, 12:45 p.m.;
-- San Gorgonio Memorial Hospital, Banning, 1:45 p.m.;
-- Kaiser Hospital-Moreno Valley, 2:30 p.m.;
-- Riverside University Medical Center, Moreno Valley, 2:40 p.m.; and
-- Hemet Global Medical Center, 3:45 p.m.

On Thursday, public safety agencies will bring Operation Holiday Cheer to the following locations:
-- Menifee Valley Medical Center, 11 a.m.;
-- Kaiser Hospital, Murrieta, 11:30 a.m.;
-- Loma Linda University Medical Center-Murrieta, 11:45 a.m.;
-- Rancho Springs Medical Center, Murrieta, 12:15 p.m.;
-- Temecula Valley Hospital, 1:15 p.m.
-- Inland Valley Medical Center, Wildomar, 1:15 p.m.;
-- Corona Regional Medical Center, 3 p.m.
-- Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Riverside, 3:45 p.m.;
-- Parkview Community Hospital, Riverside, 4:15 p.m.; and
-- Riverside Community Hospital, 4:30 p.m.

Santa Claus and other Christmastime characters will accompany first responders on the countywide journey. Similar motorcades are set in Sacramento, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties on Wednesday and Thursday.

Previous years' events can be viewed here:

—City News Service