Fox Cities News

Two elementary students from the Oshkosh Area School District recently won a fire prevention poster contest, earning them a memorable ride to school in a fire engine. The contest, organized by the Oshkosh Fire Department during Fire Prevention Week, ran from October 6-12. Fifth graders across the district were invited to create posters based on the theme “Smoke alarms: Make them work for you!”

The students, Jase from Oakwood Elementary School and Ariana from Franklin Elementary School, were recognized for their creative interpretations of the importance of smoke alarms in fire prevention. Jase highlighted the critical role of smoke alarms by stating, “If you have a fire while you are sleeping and you don’t have smoke alarms to wake you up, you could die.” Ariana emphasized the value of fire safety knowledge in emergencies, saying, “Knowing about fire safety during a fire would help me escape the building safely.”

The contest aimed to educate students on fire safety while encouraging artistic expression. The winners were chosen for their understanding of the theme and creative use of design elements.

Ariana enjoyed her ride to school on October 18 in Oshkosh Fire Department’s engine 16. Jase followed with his journey on October 23 in Town of Algoma Fire Department’s engine 8. During their rides, both students interacted with firefighters and experienced sounding the siren and honking the horn upon arrival at their schools. Their peers greeted them with enthusiasm as they exited the trucks.

Reflecting on this experience, Jase said, “It was really fun to ride in the fire truck. It was also way taller than a car, which was exciting.” Ariana shared similar sentiments: “It was fun to ride in the front of the truck. It was a unique life experience.”

The event underscored not only an educational opportunity but also created lasting memories for both students regarding fire safety practices.