Smoke Signals Video Program Winners!

As part of Burn Prevention Week, the Countryside Fire District concluded the Smoke Signals Video Program with an awards ceremony for participating middle school students from Hawthorn Middle North, Middle South and West Oak. Fire Safety videos were created as a peer to peer method of teaching fire prevention to classmates. The video addressed Illinois English Language Arts curriculum standard learning components contributing to the well being of one's school and community. The creative, factual and 30 second videos were shown to a packed fire station, recognizing all participants. The fire safety videos were judged by the National Junior Honor Society from St. Joseph's of Round Lake using a rubric for guidelines. 1st place winner was Aditi Ram, 2nd place Sean Sima, 3rd place Hunter Matuch and Daniel George took 1st runner up among all the entries. Fire Marshal Ron Cielek stated, "The middle school students are a tough group to reach and this allows the students to help the fire district reach their classmates in a mainstream, fun and factual way." The videos will be used in the morning announcements television broadcasts and put onto YouTube to help spread educational and correct information in the world wide web. Countryside Fire District Public Education Coordinator Tony Rodkey has coordinated the video programs over the past ten years in partnership with Buffalo Wild Wings, Cold Stone Creamery, Illinois Fire Safety Alliance, MOD Pizza, Northern Illinois Fire Inspector's Association and Zoup of Vernon Hills.