Fire Prevention Week collaboration nets two contest winners

Selections made by Sparky the Fire Dog

By Kathy Cruz Sequim Gazette • October 8, 2025 1:30 am

If you ate recently at the nostalgic Hi-Way 101 Diner at 392 W. Washington St., you might have noticed some artwork displayed behind the counter. Owners Vance and Sherry Willis proudly displayed drawings of a Clallam County Fire District 3 firetruck that had been colored by children ages 3-6 and home fire escape route diagrams that had been created by students ages 7-12.

It was all part of a contest to promote Fire Prevention Week, sponsored by the Sequim Gazette with Hi-Way 101 Diner and CCFD3 as partners.

Sparky the Fire Dog made a special appearance at the diner on Tuesday, Sept. 30 to personally select the winning entries. Lucas Wright’s unique bright pink and green firetruck with red windows and blue and purple wheels won the coloring competition, and Crisstepher MacRae won the Fire Escape Plan contest with a diagram of his family’s home with a meeting place designated outside.

Lucas won a firefighter action figure and Chrisstepher, a ride on a fire truck. Both will be presented a certificate naming them honorary assistant fire chiefs of prevention during Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5-11.

“We are thankful to Clallam County Fire District 3 and to the Willises and their staff at Hi-Way 101 Diner for partnering with us,” said Sequim Gazette editor Kathy Cruz. “It was a fun way to promote not just fire prevention, but community collaborations.”

Sequim Gazette photo by Lara Stanton Sparky the Fire Dog, center, gives a thumbs up to the collaboration between the Sequim Gazette, Clallam County Fire District 3, and Hi-Way 101 Diner to offer a contest for children to commemorate Fire Prevention Week, Oct. 5-11.

Photo courtesy Hayley Jennings Sparky the Fire Dog was able to connect with Crisstepher MacRae at the Clallam County Safety Fair on Saturday, where the mascot presented the youngster with a certificate proclaiming him honorary assistant fire chief for prevention during Fire Prevention Week. Crisstepher won the title — and a trip to or from school on a fire truck — for his Fire Escape Plan diagram of his family’s home.