inalists in the 2013 Miss Teen Jamaica contest visited the York Park Fire Station, Kingston, recently to socialise with the firefighters and the civilians who give them support.

The trip was part of the awareness agenda of the promoters of the annual event, which also involves visits to various public and private sector institutions.

During the visit the girls toured the facilities to see how staff and equipment combine to protect Jamaicans from the effect of fires.

“We had a wonderful time and the girls certainly enjoyed learning about the station and the work of the firefighters,” said promoter of the event, Janett Sinclair.

The girls also treated some 70 firefighters and civilians to lunch, catered by Chung’s Catering, Maxfield Avenue and, at the end of the day, presented plaques to the station’s most outstanding firefighter, Aneisha Gordon, and the Most Outstanding Civilian, Arlene Powell.

But the trip was not without its challenges as the girls tried to climb the dreaded Fireman’s Pole, and watched as the professionals loaded up and drove out to answer four emergency calls while they were there.

The girls will continue their round of visits to important institutions and individuals for the next four weeks, leading up to the finals in July.

The winner will receive a $500,000 scholarship to the University College of the Caribbean, plus a trip to Miami; the first runner-up will receive a $300,000 scholarship to UCC; and the second runner-up a $200,000 scholarship to UCC.