Get out the vote for Junior Fire Chief
June 06, 2013
LAWT News Service
The Los Angeles County Fire Department is holding a “special election” to help “elect” six Junior Fire Chiefs for 2013! For the next week until June 11, the Department is taking its traditional “Junior Fire Chief for a Day Poster Contest” to the social media world and inviting members of the public to cast their votes for the best artwork created by Junior Fire chief candidates to convey their message, “Visit a Local Professional Fireworks Show.”
Out of over 1,200 entries submitted by students in grades one through six throughout Los Angeles County elementary schools, 32 finalists have already been selected by County firefighters and uploaded to www.photobucket.com for public voting. The “Junior Fire Chief for a Day Poster Contest was first created by the Department in 1991 to help encourage people of all ages to enjoy a safe Fourth of July Holiday celebration by attending a public fireworks display handled by pyrotechnical professionals, rather than using home-use fireworks.
With the Department’s increasing use of social media to help reach its four million residents across the County, officials decided to share this time-honored tradition. As votes come in, the Department will provide updates on the Junior Fire Chief race on its Facebook page (facebook.com/LACoFD) and its Twitter account (twitter.com/ LACo_FD). In the past, only members of the Department took part in the official vote.
“I want to highlight this fireworks safety public education campaign that local school children have helped us create for the past 22 years,” says Fire Chief Daryl Osby. “Not only are the six winners honored by sharing my title of Fire Chief for a day, they will be treated with activities throughout the day by our firefighters.”
Here’s how to cast your vote:
1. Visit http://s1349.photobucket.com/user/LACountyFire/library/?sort=4&page=1 and select one winner in each grade level from grades one through six.
2. To vote, click on the small “heart image” below your choice. This will count as your vote.
3. Follow our progress on our social media sites: Facebook (facebook.com/LACoFD) and Twitter (twitter.com/LACo_FD). Use hashtag #JRFIREChief!
4. On Sunday, June 9, we will post our top candidates on Facebook and Twitter.
5. Gain extra votes for your candidate by reweeting on Twitter and liking on Facebook.
6. A Fire Department prize pack will be awarded to the person who shares the most through social media!
Election results will be announced on the Department’s Facebook page and Twitter account, and at a press conference held on June 21 to announce the six grand prize winners. The media will be invited to accompany the Junior Fire Chiefs while they enjoy their activities. Get out your vote today!