Escondido, California - In honor of the hard-working firefighters who help to protect people, animals and structures across the region, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park—through the support of California Coast Credit Union—is offering free admission to all active firefighters throughout the entire month of September.

To take advantage of this Firefighter Appreciation Month offer, firefighters will need to present an active firefighter identification card with photo (such as a department or union ID), along with a personal ID, at any Safari Park ticket window. Firefighters will receive free admission—and up to six accompanying family members or friends can get 10 percent off the purchase of a 1-Day Pass.

“Firefighters run toward the danger that many others run from—and for that courage, we are grateful,” said Lisa Peterson, director of the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. “Providing free admission to firefighters is just one small way to express the gratitude of the entire San Diego Zoo Safari Park staff.”

Fire is an important element in maintaining diverse ecosystems, however climate change, habitat loss and invasive plant species have created situations where fires are occurring much more frequently. In addition, fires are occurring repeatedly in the same areas—resulting in long-term challenges for native wildlife, uprooting animals from their homes and altering the dynamics of already fragile ecosystems. San Diego Zoo Global continues to work with local wildlife agencies to monitor native habitats, at times stepping in to help replant habitats and relocate vulnerable species. The organization supports more than 140 conservation projects in Southern California and worldwide—and encourages everyone to respect wildlife, help preserve their habitats, plant native plants and prevent wildfires.

Firefighters’ free tickets were made possible through generous support from California Coast Credit Union and are valid for same-day use only at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, located at 15500 San Pasqual Valley Road in Escondido. “Firefighters are true heroes, and we are proud to join San Diego Zoo Global in recognizing them for their tremendous efforts to keep us all safe from fires,” said Cal Coast President and CEO Todd Lane. “As part of our partnership with the city of San Diego, we will continue to look for ways to serve and support San Diego Fire Department personnel.”

At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, more than 1 million guests each year see animals in herds of mixed species, in expansive habitats. Safari tours offer savanna views of African and Asian animals, trails take visitors on treks to experience Australian and North American habitats—plus, there are opportunities for up-close encounters and unique behind-the-scenes perspectives. Known for its leadership in rhino conservation, the Safari Park is home to the Nikita Kahn Rhino Rescue Center, which is devoted to groundbreaking work to bring back the northern white rhino. As visitors discover the rare and endangered species at the Safari Park, they are directly contributing, through admission and on-grounds sales, to the efforts of San Diego Zoo Global, an international nonprofit conservation organization that works to fight extinction through recovery efforts for plants and animals worldwide. To learn more, visit sdzsafaripark.org,