Artwork by Local Youth Selected in Coloring Contest Adorning NCCFD Fire Engines

This week Nevada County Consolidated Fire District (NCCFD) recognized 16 students in grades Kindergarten through 8th grade at two local schools for their artwork with a fire safe message. The artwork has been turned into vinyl clings adorning four fire engines and four “Chief Level” fire vehicles for the next month.

On Tuesday, parents, teachers and student winners of the Second Annual “Coloring with Caution” coloring contest participated in an art unveiling and parade at Alta Sierra Elementary and Clear Creek Elementary schools.

This year’s theme was “Smoke Alarms – Make Them Work For You” and is the second annual coloring contest with local schools celebrating Fire Prevention Week. NCCFD received 50 entries from the two participating schools, an increase from about 30 entries submitted in 2023. The youngest winner is in kindergarten and the oldest is in 7th grade.

“It went fantastic. It was such a fun event. Everyone was so excited and proud of themselves to have a piece of creativity on staff vehicles. We had a great turnout and it was a lot of fun,” said Tricia Bush, Administrative Services Assistant for NCCFD.

Fire crews from four NCCFD fire stations picked winners and took shifts visiting the two schools. They represent Fire Station 84 on Coyote Street in Nevada City, Fire Station 86 on Banner Mountain, Fire Station 88 on Golden Star Road at the intersection of Highway 49 and La Barr Meadows Road and Fire Station 89 near the Country Club in Alta Sierra.

Artwork is now visible on Engines 84, 86, 88 and 89 as well as “Chief Level” staff vehicles for Fire Marshall Patrick Mason, Fire Prevention Officer Robert Tellam, Division Chief of Operations Pat Sullivan and Battalion 8.

“They are already out and about,” said Bush. 

The event was such a success that organizers are already looking forward to growing the event next year by adding schools near Ophir Hill and Penn Valley.

“Public education is really important to our agency. Our main goal is to engage with youth at our local schools and get them thinking about fire safety. This contest helped open the dialogue,” said Bush.

This year’s winners from Alta Sierra Elementary are: Logan Bell, Dominic Bush, Hadley Bush, Tenleigh Thomas, Boedy Percey, Maximus Lewis and Titus Lewis.

This year’s winners from Clear Creek Elementary are: Kaori Carda, Lorelei Edginton, Landon Olson, Micaiah Willard, Georgie Pearson, Gracie Cose, Jadzia Carda and Nicolas Youngblood.