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Students get a lift — in a firetruck Walker Elementary fourth-grader Vera Linsday poses with Ashland Fire & Rescue members, from front, Capt. Marshall Rasor, Engineer Robert Stephens and Firefighter Jim Thomason after being delivered to school in a fire engine. PHOTO BY LARRY STAUTH JR. Friday Oct 14, 2016 at 12:13 PM Oct 14, 2016 at 12:13 PM Local report Two Ashland fourth-graders who wrote winning essays were rewarded this week by getting a lift to school in a fire engine. As part of National Fire Prevention Week, a fire engine delivered fourth-grader Evan Rhoden to Bellview School on Wednesday and Vera Linsday to Walker School on Thursday. Each year since 2009, fourth-graders have been invited to participate in essay contest based on the National Fire Prevention Week theme. This year’s theme is “Don’t Wait — Check the Date! Replace Smoke Alarms Every 10 Years.” Bellview and Walker elementary schools participated in the event this year. An Ashland Fire & Rescue release reminds residents to not only check the batteries in smoke alarms, but to replace  smoke alarms if they are 10 or more years old. The release said having a working smoke alarm increases the chance of surviving a fire to about 70 percent, while a working smoke alarm and fire sprinkler system increase the chance of surviving a fire to almost 100 percent. Established in 1887, Ashland Fire & Rescue provides 24-hour service and responds to over 3,900 calls each year in an area of more than 650 square miles.