As part of an annual tradition, the Hampton Bays Fire Department challenged Hampton Bays elementary and middle school students to share their thoughts on fire safety and prevention. The youngest students, from kindergarten through grade six, were tasked with creating posters on the topic of fire prevention. The seventh- and eighth-graders wrote essays on the subject.

Three students from each grade were recognized for their efforts during the district’s Jan. 14 Board of Education meeting. First-place winners received engraved trophies, while those who took second and third were awarded engraved medallions. All winners also received a certificate from the school and a $30 gift certificate to Skidmore's Sports & Styles, courtesy of the fire department. The prizes were handed out by members of the fire department and art teachers Kathy Dayton and Deb McDowell.

Winners from each grade level, in the order they placed, are as follows. Kindergarten: Madelyn Francolini, Zoe Guastella and Matthew Zheng; first grade: Alan Ramirez, Tifany Gomez and Yusabeth Contreras; second grade: Allison Sequeira, Eskarli Banegas and Riley Mitchell; third grade: Joscelyn Sandoval, Christopher Martinez and Marelyn Bonilla; fourth grade: Hayden Bevis, Lily Simpson-Heavey and Diego Escalon; fifth grade: Teresa Lauther, James McGregor and Emma Naclerio; sixth grade: Nicholas Corredor, Marissa Kennedy and Diego Vivar; seventh grade: Domenico Pensa III, Rachel Reycroft and Marley Montague; eighth grade: Lindsay Dunn, Daniel Dimijian and Nicholas Fotopoulos.