Fire Safety Week

Flashing lights and sirens echoed around the Silver Creek area early Wednesday Oct. 12 as the three winners of the school’s fire safety poster contest arrived to school in style in Silver Creek Fire Department fire trucks! This event marked the wrap up of Fire Safety Week, with many SD83 schools holding activities to mark the event.

At Silver Creek there was a poster contest focussed on Plan Your Escape, with each child showing, in case of fire, multiple ways they would exit their homes safely. This year’s winners were Mattias, Jenae, and Bo. The prize? When they went out to leave for school on Oct. 12th they were greeted by a fire fighter and fire truck in their yard waiting to give them a ride to school!

Silver Creek Fire Department fire fighters Chief Len Sarrazin, and Officers Darcy Blair and Ted Steiger picked up the students from their homes in the fire trucks and drove them to school. Blair also ran an educational workshop about all the protective gear, and the special equipment used by individual fire fighters when entering building that are ablaze.

Over at Falkland, members Troy Ricard, Chad Graham, Jessica Orser, and Les Quigley from the Falkland Fire Department visited the school. Principal Shelly Cull reports the students were very excited to learn about, and tour, three emergency vehicles. Students in the youngest three classes received fire chief hats, colouring workbooks, and crayons. Students from the three oldest classrooms received a pencil and sticker. “All promoted awareness of safety and the importance of fire prevention efforts in our homes. Please take this opportunity to review your family’s fire escape plan,” she added.

At Parkview Elementary, Sicamous Fire Department came to the school and did a safety presentation to the students.

Fire departments in other areas also came to nearby schools and helped students learn about safe escape routes and being fire aware. Superintendent of Schools Donna Kriger extends her thanks to all the local fire fighters and departments who volunteered their time to help students learn about this important topic.