Congratulations to eight District 58 third graders who won this year’s Downers Grove Fire Department’s Home Fire Escape Plan contest! The winners are:
- Jackson T., El Sierra
- Katherine S., Fairmount
- Jake L., Henry Puffer
- Evie T., Kingsley
- Harper M., Lester
- Lauren S., Pierce Downer
- Ellery M., Whittier
- Lucas R., Whittier
District 58 partners with the Downers Grove Fire Department on several educational initiatives, including the third grade Learn Not to Burn program. As part of the program, students use their fire safety knowledge to design a home fire escape plan and enter it into the contest. The Fire Department carefully reviews each plan and selects the winners.
“Every District 58 school participated in this program, and there were so many great plans!” said Downers Grove Fire Department Public Education Specialist Dale Smith. “I am so thankful that all of the District 58 teachers and staff have been so supportive of our Learn Not to Burn program during this difficult year.”
During a typical year, each winner would earn a ride to school on a fire truck. Due to COVID-19, these plans had to change. Instead, the students each received a pizza delivered to them at home by a firefighter driving a Downers Grove fire truck. In addition, each student enjoyed a personal tour of the fire engine.
Great work, students! Jake L., one of the winning students, shared his fire escape video with The Patch. View it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79_28yN3Vf8.