Six students from Western Salisbury Elementary School, one from each grade level, got to ride to school on a fire engine June 6, instead of the their customary school bus.

The six were grade- level winners of essay/drawing contest entries of creative ideas of how children and their families prevent home fire deaths with the use of smoke alarms.

The contest grew out of an effort by Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department members to extend the messages taken to schools during the annual October Fire Prevention Week activities beyond just that fall initiative.

Children in grades kindergarten through fifth were asked to draw a picture and write a short description of how smoke alarms save lives. Each entry was to depict the theme, “Hear the Beep Where You Sleep. Each Bedroom Needs a Working Smoke Alarm.” Examples given were of individuals installing smoke alarms, changing the batteries of smoke alarms or of smoke alarms warning families of danger.

The entries were submitted anonymously with identifying numbers and three winners per grade level were picked by a PTA panel of judges. From those winners, a committee from the Western Salisbury Volunteer Fire Department picked the finalists. Second and third place winners were awarded a fire department goodie bag and first-place winners got the goodie bag and a ride to school in a fire engine.

Also riding along for the event were Principal Grace Hartman and School Superintendent Dr. Randy Ziegenfuss. Both said it was also their first ride in a fire engine.

Kindergartner Kennedy Mattern said after the ride one of the best parts for her was getting to wear the communication intercom headsets in each seat that allows occupants to talk to each other above the engine and traffic noise.

The entire student body was on the front lawn when the fire trucks arrived and cheered as their fellow students emerged from the engines. The dramatic arrival was immediately followed by the school’s annual butterfly release, which had been postponed from the previous Friday by inclement weather.

Fire Chief Joshua Wells expressed gratitude that many entries by the youngsters reflected the fire prevention message taken to the schools each fall. “That shows they are really listening when we try to teach them how to be fire safe and the messages are lasting beyond our presentations,” Wells said.

Wells also expressed gratitude to his wife, Katie, a member of the department’s auxiliary, who coordinated the event and supervised the arrangements for judging, filling the goodie bags and communications for the event.