It’s 3 a.m. You and your family are sound asleep and awake to the beeping smoke alarm. You are tired and confused from the effects of the smoke. You know you need to get to safety, but when you head for the front door you find that the escape route is blocked by fire that is spreading by the second. What do you do?

The Bismarck Fire Department each year sponsors a poster contest for elementary students in 4th, 5th, and 6th grades. This year’s theme is “Have Two Ways Out!” Students were encouraged to create a poster that demonstrated the importance of fire escape planning and practice. The posters were then judged based on the content and artistic quality. First place winners in each grade level will get a ride to their schools on October 9, 10, and 11 in the fire truck as recognition of their achievement in the poster contest.

According to Fire Marshal Ron Kunda, 136 posters were submitted this year. The posters were on display at Kirkwood Mall for a week to recognize the efforts of the students and to promote fire safety. “We have a lot of talented students in the area and judging the posters was difficult,” said Fire Marshal Kunda. “The poster contest gives the students an opportunity to express their ideas on the theme each year with some help from their families.”

This year’s winners include:

4th Grade Winners
• 1st Place : Eden Schlinger - St. Mary’s Grade School• 2nd Place: Julia Redwing - St. Mary’s Grade School
• 3rd Place: Katie Kelsch - St. Mary’s Grade School

5th Grade Winners• 1st Place: Scout Wheeler - Grimsrud Elementary
• 2nd Place: Lauren Leidenix - Cathedral Grade School• 3rd Place: Valentina Bramati - St. Mary’s Grade School

6th Grade Winners
• 1st Place : Rachel Schall - Cathedral Grade School• 2nd Place: Annabelle Neigum - Solheim Elementary
• 3rd Place: Cura Doll - Solheim Elementary