The youth of Morden would seem to be very aware and knowledgeable about fire prevention and safety given their ongoing success in an annual province-wide contest.
A student from Morden was selected as the Grade 1 winner in the Office of the Fire Commissioner’s provincial home fire escape plan contest held in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week.
This year’s winner is Misha Patel from Mme. Grenier’s class at École Discovery Trails School. As part of her award, she received a $200 Toys “R” Us gift card, and her entire class also received fire safety swag bags.
“She is the third consecutive winner that Morden has had in this contest,” noted Morden Fire & Rescue captain and public information officer Jonathan Baumgart after making the presentation at the school Dec. 11.
The theme of the contest this year focused on changing smoke detector batteries. Baumgart noted he finds that Gr. 1 students are generally quite receptive to learning such safety tips, and it is great to have them do the fire escape plans for their families as well.
“They tend to take that information; they go home and share it with their families, so that’s an age group that we like to do that with,” he said.
Baumgart said they appreciate that the local schools are so receptive to the department coming in to do presentations to the students.
“We are fortunate where, as a department, we are allowed to come into the schools, and they give us the opportunity to talk to the students about fire prevention, and in turn, they also help push that message … students are able to take it home,” he said.
“Our success in this contest really comes from the school division and the families and their efforts to do the contest, take the time to make a home fire escape plan and submit it for the contest,” said Baumgart. “I’m fortunate that when I do come, I do get their attention … they know what we’re talking about, and this is that age group that absorbs it.”
