The Airdrie Fire Department has chosen a replacement for Fire Chief Kevin Weinberger.

Well, maybe just a temporary replacement, and only for Fire Prevention Week. 

Tiana Schroeder, a grade four student at A.E. Bowers Elementary School has been named the Airdrie Fire Department's Junior Fire Chief for 2018.  Tiana submitted a thorough and comprehensive essay on fire safety best practices.  She took time from her new position to explain some of the things she covered.

"Leave your pets and siblings behind, and just make sure you get yourself out.  If you're stuck in your room, put your pillows outside your window 'cause if you jump you can break your legs."

Tiana says she gained her expertise in fire safety through drills when she was younger with her family and more recently in school. 

Both Tiana and Deputy Fire Chief Linda Masson, who was at A.E. Bowers to make the announcement that Tiana had won, said the grade four class was pretty excited when they heard the news.  

Tiana says, "They were pretty happy for me.  They clapped and one kid actually gave me a pound it."

Tiana was whisked from the school in AFD's pink wrapped fire truck to the Chinook Winds Fire Station to have lunch with the firefighters and members of her family.  She says that trip made the whole day worthwhile.

"Getting to ride in the fire truck.  It was fun, I even got to hear the sirens inside.  It was a big experience."

The annual essay contest is part of Fire Prevention Week which runs this year from October 7th - 13th.  Grade four students were invited to submit a 50-word essay on the topic, "How can I keep my family fire safe."  Teachers from the various schools that took part selected the winning essays from their class and submitted it to AFD to review all the finalists and select a winner. 

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