Roanoke Fire-EMS has found a compelling way to get creative and involve elementary and middle school students in learning about fire prevention and safety. Last week they hosted a reception in honor of the 15 winners of the 6th Annual Fire Prevention Week Art Contest. The event was held at the new Fire Station #5 on Orange Avenue, complete with uniformed firemen greeting the winners and their families as they arrived.
The contest was open to all city students in grades K-8. The winners were chosen from 102 entries, which were based on this year’s theme, “Smoke Alarms; a sound you can live with.”
Tiffany Bradbury, Fire Prevention Specialist with Roanoke Fire-EMS, who started the contest five years ago calls this “my favorite event because it is just so much fun to give back to the community this way.” She adds “It is great to see how fire safety is seen through their [students’] eyes.”
One student chose to show what might happen if smoke alarm batteries weren’t working, with half the drawing devoted to people sleeping in their beds as a fire burned. The other half of the picture had those same people fleeing their home to safety with the alarms working.
Maddie Sackett, a fourth grader at Grandin Court Elementary, created the 3rd place winner in her age group, a piece depicting a Dalmation escaping his dog house which had smoke billowing from within. Susan Light, the art teacher at Grandin Court, explained that this contest was not mandatory for her students. The kids entered it voluntarily, which made her especially proud that in addition to Maddie, there were two other winners from their school, Ashley Richards (2nd place – 3rd-5th Division) and Chase Folden (Honorable Mention).
Attendees also got to visit the Department’s new Fire Safety House, a high-tech mobile unit which simulates a house on fire and demonstrates ways kids can avoid getting hurt or trapped in a fire. The Safety House can also be used to instruct kids on safety during a hurricane and earthquake.
The firefighters go out of their way to make the kids feel special. Bradbury said that often the kids’ teachers and principals also come to recognize the winners. She says the students “come with their families — and the kids are just so proud.”
The 15 winners were recognized by Chief David Hoback and other city and school officials and were presented with prizes.
Refreshments were provided by Chick-Fil-A, Panera Bread, Firehouse Subs, McAllisters Deli and Viva La Cupcake. This contest is sponsored by The Rockingham Group.
The winning artwork will be put on display at the Southern Hills and Valley View Chick-Fil-A locations.
