Fire Essay

The Fire Essay contest is a contest that dates back many years. We have no record of when this was started, but it has been going on for a while now. This contest is conducted annually during Fire Prevention Week, which is generally the first full week in October. It is conducted throughout the Mount Pleasant Area School District and open to students in grades 6, 7, and 8. The essays have to be hand written and the subject is fire prevention. The students can write about anything they wish pertaining to fire prevention. The Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department awards prizes for the top three in each age group. The first prize is $75.00, second prize is $50.00 and third prize is worth $25.00. The firemen do not judge the essays, they are judged by members of the community or teachers in the local schools. The winners are then presented their awards at a Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department General Department Meeting. The winners read their essays to the firemen before the meeting begins. The winning essays are also submitted to the Westmoreland County Firemen's Association for possible additional awards. This is an important part of fire prevention in the schools. Every year the members of the Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department look forward to hearing the essays written by the young students. We would like all parents to encourage their children to participate in the fire essay contest, it gives both parents and children an opportunity to look at fire prevention.

Fire Truck Rides

Each spring, the members of the Mt.Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department continue a tradition that was begun in 1932. The annual "Fire Truck Rides" are something that everyone who attended school in Mt.Pleasant fondly remembers. Students from the Ramsay, Rumbaugh, and at one time 3 parochial schools were treated to a ride around ton on the departments antique ladder truck. Currently, kindergarten, first and second grade students are the only ones who get a ride.

The Annual Halloween Parade

The Halloween Parade is an annual fall tradition that has been sponsored by the Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department for many years. It is among one of the many parades and events that the Department has sponsored for the public. The Halloween Parade has been held since 1927 when the firemen first decided to sponsor the parade. Each October, the firemen organize and direct the parade and provide prizes to the marchers and participants in the parade.