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The Austin Fire Department announced the Fourth Grade Junior Fire State Poster Contest first place winner at Banfield Elementary School and two Honorable Mention winners at Southgate Elementary School.

Caden Capp received first place at the state level and Xinghu Xiang and Raidyn Regitchnig (unable to attend) both received honorable mention at the state level.

Fire Inspector Hansen awarded a check for $75 to Capp and Xiang received a check for $10 from the Minnesota State Fire Chiefs Association. Regitchnig will receive a $10 check at a later date.

The winners were presented with their award dollars during school events where family members were in attendance.

Approximately 415 fourth grade students participate in the Junior Fire Safety Program.  Each student is expected to create a fire safety poster to be entered into the contest promoting the fire prevention theme for that year.

For 2023, the theme was “Cooking safety starts with YOU.”  Two children from each elementary school (Banfield, Neveln, Southgate, Sumner, and Pacelli) are chosen as poster winners. The overall fire safety poster winner is entered into the state competition along with two honorable mention posters.

The following businesses support the 4th Grade Junior Fire Program: Applebee’s, Arby’s, Austin Bruins, Austin Parks & Recreation, Culver’s, Dairy Queen, Domino’s, Echo Lanes, El Patron, Games People Play, Godfather’s, Hardees, Hormel Foundation, Hy-Vee, Kenny’s Oak Grill, McDonald’s, Perkins, Pizza Hut, Qdoba, Smyth Companies, Sterling Drug, Steve’s Pizza, Sweet Reads, Taco John’s, Tendermaid, Walmart.