Third graders Lucas Marra of Pierce Downer School and Cameron Van Hoegarden of Fairmount School were recently driven to school on a Downers Grove Fire Department fire truck as classmates awaited their arrival outside.

Lucas’s ride took place on Friday, December 9, and Cameron’s ride took place on Tuesday, December 13. Both boys enjoyed a breakfast of their choice with firefighters at Station #5 prior to being brought to school, lights flashing and sirens wailing as they pulled up in the parking lot to cheers from their classmates at the beginning of the school day.

Firefighter Dale Smith, who began the program 17 years ago, drove the Downers Grove Fire truck on both occasions. Lucas, along with friend Grace Sweeney and teacher Tracy DeBuhr, were picked up at Lucas’s home, and Cameron was picked up at his home along with friend Kamil Stolarczyk and teacher Melissa Swallows.

“We had headphones on so we could talk to each other, and we got to blow the horn all over town. It was awesome,” Cameron said.

Both boys won their trip by entering a Home Escape Fire Safety contest sponsored by the Downers Grove Fire Department.  The children and their families tested their smoke alarms, and planned and practiced emergency fire escape routes from their homes.  The contest was open to all third grade students in the Learn Not to Burn program to encourage families to practice home fire drills, said Downers Grove Fire Department Public Education Officer Marsha Giesler.

After reviewing plans and selecting those showing the best planning, Firefighter Smith drew Lucas’s and Cameron’s names from almost 500 Downers Grove students who sent their entries in to the department, hoping to win a ride to school on a fire truck.  The winners were allowed to bring a friend and their teachers along to breakfast and for the fire truck ride.