Children win firefighter coloring contest

A number of Green River children received awards for their artwork during the Green River City Council meeting Tuesday night.

The children competed in a coloring contested hosted by the Green River Fire Department, which accepted more than 600 entries from Green River children.

Tom Murphy, a Councilman who also serves on the city's volunteer fire department, said the contest was only open to children within Sweetwater County School District No. 2's boundaries.

"This is something I'm very passionate about," Murphy said.

The coloring contest is in its second year. Murphy credits the idea to Green River City Administrator Reed Clevenger, who Murphy said told the fire department to find ways to become more visible in Green River.

Murphy said most people think of the fire department as fighting fires, but said the group takes calls involving medical emergencies, vehicle crashes, hazardous materials spills and water rescues, among others.

Murphy said firefighters also visit Green River's second-grade classes to educate children about fire safety in October.

Those visits have expanded to kindergarten and preschool classes as well and Murphy said the coloring contest also helps kids remember some of the fire safety information they were taught.

"We do this because it's part of fire prevention, but it also gets the kids involved," he said.

The fire department's efforts have not gone unnoticed either.

Murphy said while the department received thank you cards from Truman and Monroe Elementary Schools, he thinks the most rewarding part is meeting children and their parents while off the clock and hearing how much the children learned about what to do if a fire occurs.