Fire chief Dave McMahon presents Mila Keller with a certificate stating her appointment as junior fire chief. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

By Vanessa Broadbent

Osoyoos Times

The Osoyoos Fire Department has a new leader at the helm.

Mila Keller, 8, is the department’s junior fire chief after winning a colouring contest.

She credits her win to her detailed artwork.

“I think I won because I coloured mostly everything,” she said. “I coloured the floor and I did it grey because I knew that the floor (of the firehall) was grey and the trucks are red.”

Along with a certificate and badge, Mila’s appointment came with a ride to and from school in a fire truck.

“I got to sit in the front seat and ring the horn,” she said.

Joined by second and third place winners Max Keller, 7, and Clarke White, 6, the contest winners also toured the firehall on Nov. 25.

After meeting firefighters and exploring equipment, the winners participated in a live demonstration where they were rescued by firefighters from the fire hall’s practice tower.

• Read more: Osoyoos Fire Department looking for new recruits

Mila is the department’s third junior fire chief. The program launched in 2017 when the department relocated into its new fire hall, firefighter and department chaplain Casey Brouwer said.

“When we moved into the new firehall we started to do more public education and awareness and fire prevention week is one of those main things that happens on an annual basis,” he said.

“It went over so well the first year so we did it a second year and then now this is our third year of doing it.”

Colouring pages were distributed to every student at Osoyoos Elementary School and a panel chose the winners.

“We cover the names and look strictly at the colouring and look for people that put some effort into it, creativity, and ones that just stand out,” Brouwer said.

The fire department also uses the program as an opportunity to educate not only the contest winners but their peers.

Firefighters visited Mila’s Grade 3 class and along with seeing a full suit of personal protective equipment, students tested out a thermal imaging gun used to look for heat.

Mila will ride with the Osoyoos Fire Department in the Christmas Parade on Nov. 29. She’ll retain her title as junior fire chief for one year.

Max Keller is rescued during a demonstration at the Osoyoos Fire Hall Nov. 25 after winning second place in the department’s Junior Fire Chief contest. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)

Junior Fire Chief Mila Keller, joined by second place winner Max Keller, 7, and third place winner Clark White, 6, met firefighters and toured the hall Nov. 25. (Vanessa Broadbent / Osoyoos Times)