#MIDDLEBURY #MVFD
Middlebury Fire Marshal Jack Proulx announced the winners of the 2016-2017 Annual Fire Prevention Poster Contest. Cash prizes were donated by the Middlebury Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) and presented to the winners by Chief Anthony Bruno in a Dec. 12 awards ceremony at MVFD headquarters.
The $125 first-place winners are Hannah Vitali, a fourth-grader at Long Meadow Elementary School (LMES), and Katherine Mombo, a fifth-grader at LMES. The $75 second-place winners are Hannah Ali, a fourth-grader at LMES, and Emma Coelho, a fifth-grader at LMES.
Students from both Middlebury Elementary and Long Meadow Elementary schools participated in the contest, which yielded a total of 135 participants.
The posters by the fourth- and fifth-grade first-place winners from participating towns across Connecticut will be submitted for judging at the county level. Four winners will be selected from each county, two from fourth grade and two from fifth grade, and each will receive a $150 check.
The county winners will then become eligible for the state contest. One of the 32 finalists will be selected as the state winner. The state winner will receive an additional $750 check, and their school will receive a $750 grant. The state winner will be announced in March at an awards luncheon attended by the 32 finalists, their parents, teachers, principals and fire marshals.
The winning poster will be reproduced and distributed as Connecticut’s official Year 2016-2017 Fire Prevention Poster and will be displayed at the state Capitol building during October 2017 (National Fire Prevention Month).
The annual Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Contest is a cooperative effort of the Bureau of State Fire Marshal, the Connecticut Fire Marshal’s Association, the Connecticut Public Fire Education Association and the Connecticut FAIR Plan. It is an annual event that attracts thousands of students throughout the state. Last year, more than 30,000 students from more than 135 communities participated. The theme for the contest is “Fire Prevention Everyone/Everyday.”
Fire continues to be a leading cause of death and injury in the United States. Every 2½ hours, someone is killed in a home fire, and thousands more are injured each year. Children are often victims of residential fires that most often happen at night. Through fire prevention education and community participation, many of these fires can be prevented.
Children are likely to retain a fire safety message. They are a valuable link in the chain of communication as they take the lesson home and promote fire prevention measures to the family. It is hoped that fire safety and prevention awareness will be increased through this educational program.
Fire Marshal Proulx and the poster contest committee thank Region 15, the fourth- and fifth-grade principals and teachers, and all the participating students for their enthusiastic artwork and creative thinking in this very important fire prevention awareness program.
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