“Arriving at the Great Gingerbread Barn Fire”
Individual Class - 1st Place Winner
Gingerbread, assorted candy, gum-paste, fruit-by-the-foot, oats, coconut, royal icing, food coloring and lots of attention to detail were used to create this realistic fire scene. Once the idea for a burning barn was settled on, a cardboard model was used as a template to form the main pieces. After baking and curing for several days the barn was “raised” (assembled) decorated and then “set on fire.”

“Columbus Ohio No. 5 Engine House”
Individual Class - 2nd Place Winner
A photo found on the internet of a real fire station in Columbus Ohio was the inspiration for this gingerbread firehouse. The walls are made from gingerbread, and decorated with lots of details piped on with a frosting bag using royal icing and food coloring.

“North Pole Fire Department”
Individual Class - 3rd Place Winner
Traditional gingerbread techniques were used to create this whimsical looking North Pole Fire Station. Pez candies frame the apparatus garage doors, while red cinnamon gum sticks shingle a roof crowned with gumdrops. Frosting covered ice cream cones were used to form the Christmas Trees.

“Engine No. 89”
Gingerbread, assorted candy, rice cereal treats marshmallows, and lots of royal frosting were used to create this impressive fire station. Unfortunately the roof collapsed under the weight of the “snow.

“Firehouse”
This gingerbread firehouse was made by modifying a traditional gingerbread house kit. Cinnamon gum singles cover the roof, and candy pieces add the accents. The fire engine was made using rice cereal treats covered with red royal icing and miniature Oreo cookie wheels. Cookie accents and coconut flakes add the accents around the base to complete the scene.

“Fire at the Cosmic Montessori School”
Family/Group Class - 2nd Place Winner
Red pull-apart Twizzlers were used to create abstract “flames” in this depiction of a tragic fire and explosion at Aurora’s Cosmic Montessori Community School. Thankfully the school’s pet rabbits are safe in their pen out back, and the firefighters are on the scene.

This group project represents the creativity of young minds, and the Victorian design esthetic of “more (candy in this case) is never enough!”

“Aurora Fire Station 3 "
Family/Group Class - 3rd Place Winner (tie!)
Aurora’s Fire Station No. 3 at the corner of Indian Trail Road and Highland Avenue was constructed by the daughter of an Aurora Firefighter who works at that station. After meticulously photographing and measuring the real station, a cardboard model was made which was then used as a template to cut the gingerbread walls. Windows were made from melted hard candies, rice cereal treats and fondant were used to craft the realistic Engine 3, Medic 3, and Battalion Chief 2 vehicals.

“Paul Davis Restoration Before and After a Fire”
Family/Group Class - 3rd Place Winner (tie!)
A tragic fire has destroyed this gingerbread house. What’s a gingerbread family to do -- Call Paul! Visitors are invited to (gently) spin the turn-table under this gingerbread house to see the finished results of using a qualified restoration contractor, like Paul Davis after a fire, flood or mold infestation.

Made using gingerbread, assorted candy, and royal icing.

“St. Charles Fire Station 1 - circa 1892”
Two kinds of gingerbread were used to recreate the old St Charles City Hall and Fire Station 1. A mold was used to create the brick pattern on the walls. The roof shingles are made using cinnamon gum, while fondant and Juicy Fruit gum form the windows. Royal icing and fondant holds it all together, and marshmallow fluff covered with coconut flakes create the snowscape.

“Mrs O’Leary’s Cow Strikes Again!”
Gingerbead and lots and lots of frosting were instrumental in creating this project. When the original roof caved in, the bakers (a local girl scout troop) decided to set the house on fire — see the marshmallow cow kicking over the light-post in the rear. The longer the “finished” house sat on the family’s kitchen table, the more and more it became adorned with candy.

“Hook & Ladder No. 8 - Ghostbusters Firehouse”
Professional Class - 1st Place Winner
New York City’s Hook & Ladder Co. 8 was built in 1912 and is still used as an operational fire station. In 1984, the building’s exterior was used as a movie location, and became famous as the fictional home for the Ghostbusters.

Grey fondant covers the base and creates the urban NYC cityscape. The firehouse is gingerbread with color and textures added. A homemade hard candy recipe was used to pour the clear windows. The Ghostbusters ambulance and the Stay-puff Man were made from rice cereal treats covered in fondant. Christmas decorations were formed with royal icing and a bunch of holiday cheer.

“Bucket Brigade”
Professional Class - 2nd Place Winner
Oh, No! A small fire has broken out in Santa’s Workshop! Thank goodness the toys have already been moved to prepare for the big night on Christmas Eve. The Volunteer Fire Elves are working hard to contain the blaze. The rag-tag team of inexperienced Santa’s helpers is busy filling the buckets and passing them along…maybe someone should tell them to just use the hose they have?

This entry offers a whimsical look at what might happen if the unthinkable happened at the North Pole. Both structures and the sleigh and reindeer are constructed from gingerbread and Royal Icing. The floor in the firehouse is made of fondant. The elves, the buckets, hose, hydrant, bell and ladder are fondant and tylose powder. These were modeled by hand with uncooked spaghetti noodles for support.