A new twist on a longstanding program, Escalon Fire Department is hosting a coloring contest in conjunction with Fire Prevention Week and will be presenting a special ‘prize’ to winners.
The prize is getting picked up at their home and taken to school in a fire engine.
“We presented the fire prevention program to around 1,100 kids on Oct. 5 and 6,” explained Battalion Chief Terry Pinheiro. “Part of it this year is, in the goody bag we give them with a coloring book and fire prevention-type items, this year there is a page in the coloring book that they will be coloring for a contest.”
Presentations were made at Van Allen Elementary on Monday, Oct. 5 and Dent Elementary students had the Fire Prevention Week assembly on Tuesday, Oct. 6. Along with Pinheiro, who coordinated the presentations, firefighters putting them on included Ryan Burr, Jennifer Cannon, Connor Coker, Rigo Fonseca, Veronica Moreno and Anthony Munoz.
At Van Allen, students in kindergarten through third grade will participate in the coloring contest, with the contest entries being picked up on Oct. 15. Dent Elementary students in kindergarten through fifth grade will take part, their entries being picked up on Oct. 16.
“We will review the pictures they color, one student from each grade level will be chosen as having done the best job,” Pinheiro said.
Those winners, the four from Van Allen and six from Dent, will be notified by the fire department and arrangements made for them to be picked up by the firefighters for their special ride to school.
It’s anticipated most students will get their rides to school sometime this month; although Pinheiro said it might spill over into November because of another ongoing fire department program.
“We also, this month, have our smoke detector checks,” Pinheiro said.
In that program, local elderly residents who are unable to change the batteries in their smoke detectors and don’t have family that can help, can contact the fire department and that service will be provided.
“We provide the battery, remove the old, put in the new, clean the fire detector contacts, make sure they are working properly,” Pinheiro said.
Those that need the service can call to request it through the fire department at 838-7500. Again, Pinheiro stressed it is designed for those who can’t handle the task themselves or don’t have family that can take care of the smoke detector check and battery change.
