Bryan County Emergency Services received the 2015 Fire Prevention Program of the Year Award during a special luncheon Thursday, Oct. 29, at the Georgia Public Safety Training Center in Forsyth. 

The award recognized the department’s achievements through educational and entertaining shows put on by BCES employees and volunteers. BCES employees applied for and were awarded grant money from Georgia Power, Coastal Electric and Canoochee Electric, which allowed them to purchase a Sparky the Fire Dog costume and puppets and build a puppet stage that looks like a fire truck. Throughout the past two years, BCES has been traveling to schools to teach fire and life safety with this program.  

Additionally, during October's Fire Prevention Month — with the support of Dairy Queen in Richmond Hill and Pembroke, The Ice Cream Shop and the Bryan County Board of Education — a coloring sheet was distributed to all local children. Once the sheet was colored, it could be redeemed at those businesses for a free ice-cream cone.

BCES also spread the fire-prevention message with the help of Deano's Pizza in Pembroke, That's Italian and Papa's Pizza in Richmond Hill. Every pizza purchased had a fire-prevention flyer taped to the box with a reminder about smoke alarms and exit plans.