Grand Island 3rd graders recognized for home fire escape plan

GRAND ISLAND, Neb. (KSNB) - Grand Island elementary students will be safer because they know what to do if their home ever has a fire.

In recognition of fire prevention week activities, the Grand Island Fire Department (GIFD) conducted an education program, called “The Great Escape” which is aimed at Grand Island third graders.

As part of the program, children were asked to create a home fire safety plan. The escape plans were to include two fire escape routes, per room, a central meeting place for the family outside the home and a detailed drawing of how to escape from each room.

GIFD Chief Cory Schmidt said if there was a fire then that’s the wrong time to plan on how to get out so them getting involved and asking the kids to make these plans, it helps to get those plans made and then in place at their homes.

The plans were judged by the GIFD personnel and a winner was chosen from each participating third grade class.

Those students gathered Thursday morning for a ceremony at Grand Island Fire Station 1 for a ceremony.

In addition, an overall winner was selected. That person was Kush Budler from Engleman Elementary.

He said he’s excited to have won saying it’s important because if they didn’t have a plan then he wouldn’t know what to do.

A part of his prize was to get a ride to school in a fire engine as well as get to take a ride in the fire engine ladder bucket.

Engleman Elementary 3rd Grade Teacher Jean Vaughn said having the children do this is so important.

“It’s going to save your whole family, and I stress to the kids that there’s only one of you, only one of your family, we’ve got to keep them safe, because we can’t get another one,” she added.

Copyright 2022 KSNB. All rights reserved.