Homer Tribune
June 11, 2008
Homer youth wins FireWise poster contest
Maggie LaRue, Homer fifth-grader, created the winning poster depicting ways to surround home defenses against fire.
A Homer fifth-grader won the 2008 FireWise Poster Contest when her drawing depicting the FireWise principles was selected as the winner from more than 145 peninsula-wide entries.
Maggie LaRue, 11, will receive an iPod Shuffle, as well as get to ride in the Homer Fourth of July parade in a fire truck thanks to her skillful depiction of defensible space strategies.
"Maggie's drawing showed many of the little things people can do to promote fire safety and prevent home ignitions in the event of a wildfire," said Judy Reese, FireWise Team Leader for the Kenai Peninsula. "Many of us can learn valuable principles from her artwork."
Also winning a chance to ride in their community's parade this July are Meghan Powers, 12, of Soldotna; Tyler Hadley, 11, of Nikiski; Hannah Pothast, 10, of Soldotna; Lia Kim, a third-grader from Seward; Koby Etzwiler, 8, of Homer; Heidi Watkins, 7, of Kenai; and Aleftina Rijkoff, 5, of Voznesenka. Each of these young artisans took first place in their grade with nine Peninsula schools entering. The students' artwork will be used in a variety of products encouraging FireWise education, including place mats that will be distributed to restaurants across the Kenai Peninsula.
"The poster contest was a great way to get youth thinking about how to make their homes FireWise, while bringing that message to the greater public as well," Reese said. "FireWise is for all ages and kids can help at home by raking dead leaves and grass; planting flowers and gardens; watering the lawn; mowing the grass and stacking branches for winter burning. This is about families working together and staying together in the event of a natural emergency."
The Division of Forestry and the Kenai Peninsula Borough received a grant from USDA Forest Service in 2007 to promote FireWise principles on the Peninsula. The efforts are a response to critical needs identified in the Community Wildfire Protection Plans, which were completed in many areas in 2006. Those plans called for more education regarding defensible space and what landowners and community groups could do to reduce their risks. Residents can call the Alaska Division of Forestry at 907 260-4262 to sign up for a free FireWise home support visit. In addition, FireWise teams can make educational presentations to community groups, clubs and organizations. Give them a call and start creating your own family masterpiece - A FireWise Safe Home.
For more information, contact:
Judy Reese
FireWise Team Leader
907-260-4262
kpb.firewise.team@gmail.com
www.firewisekp.com