Woodstock fire chief and Regional Fire Marshal visit school to present backpack of special gifts
With a shy and bewildered smile, Townsview School kindergartener Hafizullah Ibn Jibnel Ona wore his plastic fireman’s helmet and held his stuffed Sparky the Fire Dog as he accepted his Fire Prevention Poster prize from some special guests to his classroom on Tuesday, Dec. 17.
Regional Fire Marshal Eric Guerette, Woodstock Fire Chief Harold McLellan and the chief’s dog Ember visited teacher Shannon Despres’s kindergarten class to deliver a backpack and contents to the five-year-old winner, one of 27 across New Brunswick.
Children throughout New Brunswick created posters during Fire Safety Week in October.
The backpack included a stuffed Sparky toy and a plastic fireman helmet, as well as a household fire extinguisher, a smoke alarm, and an assortment of children’s items.
Ember, the chief’s nine-year-old child-friendly Dalmatian, was “Haffy” and his classmates’ favourite visitor. Ember made several trips around the classroom to take in the young students’ head rubs.
Guerette quizzed the children on fire safety. Many of them already knew the purpose of the fire extinguisher and smoke alarm, including that they needed a working battery.
Guerette explained the annual Fire Safety Week and the Fire Prevention Poster Contest encourage schools and their young students to learn about the dangers of fire while sharing in the fun.
