Second Graders Recognized by City, MBFD

Winners from the annual Manhattan Beach Fire Department Great Escape Contest were honored by City Council this month, each having the chance to meet Mayor Nick Tell and receive a certificate of achievement.

The winners of this year's event were Hatcher Johnson of Pacific, Kirra Troeger of Grandview, Kaitlin Beltran of American Martyrs, Nicole Wuelping of Pennekamp, Betina Lounsbury of Robinson and Isabella Sewell of Meadows. 

The contest is designed for second graders in the Manhattan Beach Unified School District and covers several topics regarding fire safety and prevention.

This year, students were charged with the task of creating a "Home Escape Plan" in the event that their homes were ever in the midst of a fire.

Students were given a packet of materials that the used to create two escape routes from their homes, and in the process, they were taught the importance of feeling a door for heat, crawling in low smoke while exiting, and identifying a meeting place once exiting their homes.

Kids from each local elementary school then submitted their plan to their respective schools, and one winner was awarded with a tee shirt and a ride to school on a MBFD fire truck, in addition to receiving a certificate of achievement from Mayor Tell.

This year's event saw significant success, as over 80 percent of over 600 Manhattan Beach second graders submitted a escape plan.