October 5-11, 2008 – The Fire Prevention Week: Prevent Home Fires

Fire Safety Poster Contest - General Information, Guidelines and Contest Rules

Fire Prevention Week was established to commemorate the Great Chicago Fire, the tragic 1871 conflagration that killed more than 250 people, left 100,000 homeless, destroyed more than 17,400 structures and burned more than 2,000 acres. The fire began on October 8, but continued into and did most of its damage on October 9, 1871.

According to popular legend, the fire broke out after a cow - belonging to Mrs. Catherine O'Leary - kicked over a lamp, setting first the barn, then the whole city on fire. Chances are you've heard some version of this story yourself; people have been blaming the Great Chicago Fire on the cow and Mrs. O'Leary, for more than 130 years.

Who is eligible?

The theme for this year is “Prevent Home Fires.” All 5th grade students enrolled at Sunset Acres, Lakeshore, University, Northside, and Ingersoll Elementary are eligible to participate in this contest. Each school will designate judges to select the best “Fire Safety” poster winner from their school. Only one winner per school can be chosen.

Students interested in participating in this contest will have until October 3, 2008, 3:00 p.m. to complete their project. The winner of the Fire Safety Poster Contest will be presented with a $100 gift card by Shreveport Firefighters and their artwork will be posted on the Shreveport Fire Department’s Fire Prevention website.

What will I need?

Students will only need a poster board and an imagination. There are many ideas that students can use in creating their fire safety poster. Below are a few ideas that may be of some help.

• Don’t Touch Matches and Lighters
• Smoke Alarms Save Lives
• In the Kitchen Don’t Cook Alone or Without Asking an Adult
• Don’t Play With Electrical Cords
• Be Careful Around Space Heaters
• Practice Your Escape Plan…Always Have Two Ways Out