SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A couple of students were lucky enough to find out what it's like to be a firefighter last week.

On Oct. 29 Yash Shresthan, a Grade 3 student at Range Lake North School was announced Yellowknife's Junior Fire Chief of the Day.

Gerda Groothuizen, deputy fire chief, left, and Yellowknife fire chief Darcy Hernblad pose with contest winners Yash Shresthan, Amanda Jennings, and Justin Rheaume who were given prizes from the fire department for their participation in a fire department competition last month. - Adrian Lysenko/NNSL photo

Shresthan's name was drawn after he attended the Yellowknife fire hall's open house last month.

Shresthan was picked up at his school by one of the department's fire engines and got a tour of the fire hall.

"It was exciting," said Shresthan. "I got to ride in the fire truck and we went to McDonald's."

He was also given firefighter gear, a smoke alarm and a Sparky the Fire Dog talking doll. His classmates will receive fire prevention activity material because he was chosen.

Only one very important thing appealed to Shresthan about being a firefighter.

"Putting out fires and that's probably it," he said.

Justin Rheaume, a Grade 5 student from N.J. MacPherson School, was given various prizes from the fire department when his fire escape plan was picked as a winner.

"It was unexpected," said Rheaume. He said his mother did not know what to expect when the fire department contacted him to tell him he won.

"She was thinking 'what did he do now?" he said.

Rheaume received a fire escape ladder, smoke alarm, a $50 gift certificate to Canadian Tire and a fire department hoodie.

Another winner was Amanda Jennings whose fire escape plan was selected as well.

"I was really surprised," she said.

The Grade 10 student from St. Patrick High School also received a bundle a prizes including a fire escape ladder, smoke alarm, $100 gift certificate to Roy's Audiotronics, $50 gift certificate to Boston Pizza, a fire department

hoodie as well a long sleeve shirt. Also, Jennings will get to gear up and join the fire crew for a day, this Thursday when she will ride along with the firefighters.

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