Glendale News Press
June 2 2007
Junior fire chief chosen
Selection is based on an essay on fire safety and prevention. Winner
gets a new mountain bike for her good work.
By Jason Wells
As one of her first acts as junior fire chief, fifth-grader Zara
Minasyan would gather all the city’s children and replant trees that
have been lost in this year’s blazes.
"I’d want to replace all of them because these fires are all caused
by careless people," the Horace Mann Elementary School student said.
Glendale Fire Chief Chris Gray announced Minasyan’s appointment from
a crowded field of candidates at Verdugo Park Friday based on an
essay that read more like that of a seasoned civic administrator than
it did a wiry 11-year-old with dark, curly hair and glittery jeans.
Resources spent fighting recent fires could have been better spent if
it weren’t for the apparent careless acts of the fire-starters, she
wrote in response to the question on how each student would make
their family and home safe from fires.
"The money that was lost could go to help the needy, to help schools,
or to help the environment, but instead it was wasted on careless
people causing fires," her essay read.
Glendale Firefighters chose her from 25 finalists representing just
as many fifth-grade classes from public and private schools
throughout the Glendale area.
Her signing bonus? A brand new mountain bike.
"I was so excited when they called my name and really eager," Zara
said.
She was flanked by her deputies – Natalie Delpino of Skyward
Christian School as junior assistant fire chief and Jacob Deyell of
Balboa Elementary School as junior deputy fire chief, who were also
chosen based on their essays.
The announcements capped off a four-month process that saw thousands
of fifth-graders in the city’s schools complete fire-prevention
workbooks and manuals handed out by firefighters at school
presentations.
More than 250 top-scorers earned the right to skip class Friday and
attend the 52nd annual Junior Fire Picnic at Verdugo Park, complete
with potato sack races against Glendale Firefighters and a water
balloon toss.
Just before the announcements, a fire engine soaked the crowd of
screaming, fully clothed students with a water stream that extended
more than 100 feet.
That didn’t stop them from chanting "One more time" until
firefighters released another stream from atop the engine.
And while the deafening screams and hyperactivity drew grins from at
least a dozen firefighters throughout the event, there was another
reason behind the smiles.
"All of this sticks, even into adulthood," Gray said as a mob of
students crowded the stage in the hopes their raffle tickets might
win something from a stack of prizes that included sports equipment,
a Game Boy, toy trucks and a Super Soaker.
Despite all the games, prizes and water, the basics of fire
prevention were just a tap on the shoulder away for children who had
clearly learned the material.
Glendale Firefighter and program director Fred Castro tapped on
Lincoln Elementary students Alec Bottrell and Joe Torres as they
waited in line for hot dogs.
They promptly recited the three basics of fire mitigation – cut off
the oxygen supply, remove the fuel and pour the water.
And they would never go back into a burning building, not even for a
pet, they said.
"That’s right, because we can’t replace you guys," Castro said.
They nodded and went back to snapping twigs.
But for Castro, it made all the effort worthwhile.
"That’s the key thing, that they all know this stuff by heart," he
said.