Release #183-97

Contact: Colleen Roche (212)788-2958 or Dwight Williams(212) 788-2972

Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen today honored the winners of the 77th Annual Fire Prevention School Contest Awards Ceremony held at the High School of Fashion Industries in Manhattan. The Contest is part of the annual Fire Prevention School Campaign designed to teach public and private school children the importance of fire safety.

"New York City is home to the most creative and talented young people in the world and today's competition is evidence that this is true," Mayor Giuliani said. "By any standard, the outstanding artistic and literary skills of today's contest winners are truly impressive. The competition also provides contest participants with the important knowledge needed to prevent fires and that makes our City a safer place. Your fire prevention messages will raise our awareness and will help New York's brave firefighters better protect the people of this City."

"For 77 years the Fire Department Prevention School Contest has been an excellent way to get children thinking about fire prevention and fire safety," Commissioner Von Essen said. "Teaching children of the dangers of fire and encouraging them to promote fire safety at a young age helps reduce the chances of tragedy later in life."

After their remarks, the Mayor and Fire Commissioner administered the Junior Fire Chief's Oath of Office to the 250 citywide award winners. More than 90,000 public and parochial students, in kindergarten through the ninth grade, enter the contest each year. Prizes are awarded for the best art projects and essays on fire prevention. The contest has two main objectives: to emphasize the importance of fire prevention in reducing loss of life and property, and to recognize the artistic and literary skills of the students.

The success of the Fire Prevention School Campaign has been made possible through the cooperation of the New York City Board of Education, the Archdiocese of New York, Diocese of Brooklyn, the Board of Jewish Education and the Lutheran School Association. For more than half a century, the New York Board of Underwriters has provided funds to make this annual program a reality.