2013-2014 Frederick County Fire Prevention Ambassador Contest
 
By Deputy Chief Brendan Beaton
October 6, 2013
 

On October 6, 2013 several young men and women competed in the Frederick County Fire Prevention Ambassador Contest. Among those contestants was United Fire Company's own Justine Glover. The ambassadors range in age from seven years old to seventeen years old and represent their respective age groups accordingly. Each contestant had the opportunity to speak to a panel of judges on a fire prevention or safety practice of their choice earlier in the day. That evening, the contestants were escorted to the stage at Walkersville Volunteer Fire Station's Social Hall for randomly selected questions pertaining to fire safety and prevention. Master of Ceremonies Dave Keller, 1st Vice President of the Maryland State Fireman's Association, had each contestant choose a question from the hat. The contestants then answered their question to the best of their ability. The panel of judges consisted of Shelby Simmons, Miss Fire Prevention for Allegany/Garrett Counties, Johnie Roth, 2nd Vice President of the Maryland State Fireman's Association, and Carol Hayden, President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Maryland State Fireman's Association. The judges were able to reach a decision after a short adjournment. The winner of the Little Fire Chief category was Blake Ambrose of Jefferson, the winner of the Junior Fire Chief was Colby Ambrose of Jefferson, the winner of the Little Miss Fire Prevention was Isabella Springirth of Adamstown, the winner of the Jr. Miss Fire Prevention was Meaghan Andrews of Keymar, and the winner of the Miss Fire Prevention was Justine Glover of Frederick. Over the next year, each of these ambassadors will be tasked with many fire prevention details and safety awareness days, not to mention the parades and carnivals later in the year. Each ambassador will rely greatly on their parents for much of the shuttling around but the true backbone of the Frederick County Fire Prevention Ambassador program is Amanda Soper, Contest Chairperson and Sharon Soper, Past President of the Ladies Auxiliary to the Maryland State Fireman's Association and Frederick County Fire Prevention Committee Chair. We wish each new ambassador well in the upcoming year and hope to see their smiling faces around the fire prevention tables and atop a convertible or two at a parade near you.