Southbury Winners Of The 2025 Fire Prevention Poster Recognition Program

Southbury, CT — Two students from Pomperaug Elementary School, Natalie Rua and Shaurya Kundu, have been named the local winners in the 2025 Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Recognition Program. Natalie is a 4th-grade student, and Shaurya is in 5th grade.

Southbury Fire Marshal Derrek Guertin presented the awards on Monday, Jan. 5. Each student received a $25 gift card to Barnes and Noble and a Southbury Fire Marshal’s challenge coin. The winning posters created by Rua and Kundu will now proceed to the county level of judging in the statewide competition.

The annual Connecticut Fire Prevention Poster Recognition Program is a collaborative effort involving several organizations. These include the Connecticut Fire Marshals Association, the Office of the State Fire Marshal, and The Connecticut Fire Chiefs Association. The Connecticut State Board of Education, the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, and the Connecticut FAIR Plan, which represents the insurance industry, also participate in the program.

The poster contest is open to students in the 4th and 5th grades across Connecticut. Its primary goal is to educate children about fire prevention. The program emphasizes that fire prevention is a responsibility for everyone, every day.

Officials extended congratulations to the local winners from Southbury. They also expressed appreciation to all the students who submitted posters for the contest.

This article includes AI-assisted reporting. Editors reviewed all content for accuracy.