FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:  Samille J. Jackson
(334) 206-5658

The Alabama Agency Fire Safety Group held the Safe Home Alabama Poster Contest during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 4-10. The contest was open to all elementary school children in Alabama (grades kindergarten-6). Each elementary school was to select a first place winner from each grade level and then submit the winning art work to the group.

“We greatly appreciate all schools and students that participated in the contest,” said Samille J. Jackson of the Injury Prevention Division, Alabama Department of Public Health. “Teachers and firefighters, we thank you immensely for the time you took teaching the students about fire safety and encouraging them to create art from the lessons learned. Let us remember to practice fire safety throughout the year, not solely during Fire Prevention Week.”

Submissions were required to be original work of the students and had to clearly display a fire safety topic or message covering one of the following categories: burn prevention, cooking, fireworks, candle, electrical, or heating safety, escape planning, smoking, smoke alarms, home fire sprinklers, carbon monoxide, outdoor grilling/campfires, wildfires, seasonal safety (Halloween, Christmas, winter/holiday) or fire safety for persons with disabilities. Entries were judged according to creativity, attention to detail, theme, use of color, and clearness of message.

The winners are as follows:

• Lindsay Trull – South Lamar Elementary School, South Lamar Fire Department
• Parker Mitchell – Brent Elementary School, Brent City Fire Department
• Sara Matthews – Meadowview Elementary School, Selma Fire Department
• Shandria Jones – Deborah Cannon Wolfe Elementary School, Shorter Fire Department
• Marquis Cleveland – Meadowview Elementary School, Selma Fire Department
• Isaac Holcomb – Speake School, Moulton Fire Department and Speake Volunteer Fire Department
• Jackson Bonner– Escambia Academy, Poarch Fire Department
• Lindsey Gordon – Pinecrest School, Sylacauga Fire Department
• Parker Crauswell – Sumiton Christian School, Sumiton Fire Department
• Joseph Jones – Brent Elementary School, Brent City Fire Department
• Sarah Hartman – Meadowview Elementary School, Selma Fire Department
• Molly Grace Willingham – Addison Elementary School, Addison Fire Department
• Ryon Dodd – Lynn Elementary School, Lynn Volunteer Fire Department

The Safe Home Alabama campaign was sponsored by State Farm Insurance Co.

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1/19/10