Ohio State Fire Marshal Announces Annual Fire Safety Poster Contest for Elementary Students

COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Ohio Department of Commerce Division of State Fire Marshal invites elementary school students across Ohio to get out their crayons and markers so they can highlight the importance of fire safety as part of its 2025 Fire Safety Poster Contest. This contest takes place annually to engage young minds, emphasize fire safety education, and recognize those who are able to visually demonstrate fire safety knowledge. Students can choose to include a range of fire prevention themes on their posters, such as "Charge into Fire Safety (Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your House)" "Smoke Alarms, Make Them Work For You! And "Kitchen Safety Starts with You."

During the monthlong contest, elementary schools across Ohio are encouraged to partner with their local fire departments to highlight fire safety practices. Schools must submit entries to their local fire departments by Oct. 3 so those departments can display the posters during Fire Prevention Week, which will take place Oct. 5-11.

Once Fire Prevention Week has concluded, the fire department must select one winning submission from each age category: grades K-3 and 4-6. Those winning entries will then be submitted to the Ohio Division of State Fire Marshal, where a committee will review them and select six winners in each category. Winners of the 2025 poster contest will receive special recognition by the State Fire Marshal in spring 2026.

More information on the contest can be found here. If your local fire department is unable to participate in the contest, schools are invited to submit their winning selections directly to the State Fire Marshal's office for consideration. More than 50 posters were submitted during last year's contest. Click here to view the winning posters.

"Fire safety education is a cornerstone of our mission, and this contest is a fun and impactful way to engage our young students in learning life-saving skills," said Ohio State Fire Marshal Kevin Reardon. "By encouraging creativity and collaboration with local fire departments, our goal is to foster a culture of safety that starts with our youngest Ohioans."

Contest Timeline

• Oct. 3, 2025 - Schools submit posters to their local fire department.
• Oct. 5-11, 2025 - Fire Prevention Week
• Nov. 14, 2025 - Fire departments submit winning selections to the Division of State Fire Marshal at 8895 E. Main St., Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068.
• Spring 2026 - Winners announced.

Fire Safety Poster Contest Rules:

• Posters must include a fire prevention theme such as "Charge into Fire Safety (Lithium-Ion Batteries in Your House)" "Smoke Alarms: Make Them Work for You!" Or "Kitchen Safety Starts with You."
• Posters should display positive behavior statements of what students can do to prevent a fire at home and/or positive steps they can take to escape from a fire including identifying common places where fires can start, how to prevent fires, what to do when a smoke alarm sounds, how and when to test smoke alarms and when to change batteries, and fire escape plans that have two exits as well as a safe meeting place.
• Posters must be on 8.5" x 11" paper.
• Any colors may be used; however, a white or light-colored background is preferred.
• Crayons, markers, pencils, etc. can be used.
• All artwork must be original. No computer-generated artwork or photographs can be used. Clippings from magazines, newspapers, and books cannot be used, and traced images will not be accepted.
• Students should pay attention to spelling as posters with spelling errors will be eliminated from consideration.
• The poster surface should remain flat.
• The back of the poster must clearly include:
  • Name of student
  • Grade and age of student
  • Name of fire department with FDID number (if a fire department is participating)
  • Name of school
  • Classroom or teacher's name
  • Address and phone number of school
    • *Please print clearly or attach label. If information is missing, the entry will be disqualified from consideration.
• All posters must be completed and turned over to the local fire department (if participating), prior to the Oct. 3, 2025, deadline.
• Fire departments (or school officials where a fire department is not participating) must submit only two winning posters to the State Fire Marshal's Office by the Nov. 14 deadline (one selection from each grade category).
• Please note that all submitted posters will become property of the Division of State Fire Marshal and will not be returned, so participants should copy or photograph their artwork before submitting it.

A committee established by the Division of State Fire Marshal's Fire Prevention Bureau will judge finalists. The fire department (or school) will be notified of winners prior to the end of March 2026. Schools or fire departments with any questions should contact the Division's Fire Prevention Bureau at 1-888-243-0305, option #1.

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About the Division of State Fire Marshal

The Division of State Fire Marshal is part of the Ohio Department of Commerce. The department is Ohio's chief regulatory agency, focused on promoting prosperity and protecting what matters most to Ohioans. We ensure businesses follow the laws that help them create jobs and keep Ohioans safe. To learn more about what we do, visit our website at com.ohio.gov.