WASHINGTON—The partners behind the wildfire prevention legend Smokey Bear and his public service advertisement campaign—the longest running in United States history—are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2026 Smokey Bear Award.
In the world of wildfire prevention, there is no greater honor than receiving a Smokey Bear Award. The National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the Ad Council, and the USDA Forest Service, which together make up the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Committee (CFFP), have managed these awards since the 1950s.
“These awardees demonstrate what fire prevention looks like in action,” said U.S. Forest Service Deputy Chief Sarah Fisher. “Their efforts protect lives, support firefighters, and make a real difference in communities across the country.”
The Smokey Bear Awards are reserved for individuals, teams, and organizations that provide outstanding service with significant and sustained program impact in the wildfire prevention arena. This year, five individuals and four teams have earned prestigious recognition for fire prevention work in their communities.
BRONZE
Captain Eric O’Connor
Rapid City Fire Department Captain Eric O’Connor worked with the Bureau of Land Management district to create a workforce program that provides recent military veterans with training and hands-on experience in wildfire prevention, fuels mitigation, and operational activities. The program continues to grow beyond Rapid City, South Dakota,sustaining wildfire prevention education and actively reducing wildfire risk. Captain O’Connor used prescribed burns and other mitigation activities as an opportunity to educate his community and strengthen partnerships.
Friends of the Bridger-Teton
Friends of the Bridger-Teton (Friends) is a nonprofit organization that helps steward the Bridger-Teton National Forest in Wyoming. Their ambassador program locates and extinguishes abandoned campfires, a leading cause of human-caused wildfires. As a nonprofit with fundraising ability, Friends purchased supplies to increase fire prevention programming capacity including metal fire rings and “Drown, Stir, Drown, Feel” stickers for firewood. They also train local youth as interns to prepare the next generation of fire prevention professionals.
Karen Harrison
Karen is the Minnesota Statewide Fire Prevention Coordinator who took the initiative to completely redesign the wildfire exhibit at the Minnesota State Fair. This programsignificantly increased the number of Minnesotans engaging with Smokey and his message. Karen organized a team of subject matter experts and communications staff to ensure messaging was both accurate and engaging. The result is a brand-new wildfire exhibit at the State Fair with record numbers of visitors learning about wildfire prevention.
Kathy Slade
Kathy is a Museum Educator at the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) Museum of Firefighting who went above and beyond to incorporate wildfire prevention programming and educate the next generation of firefighters and wildfire prevention professionals. She developed partnerships with the New York Department of Environmental Conservation Rangers and Scouting America to ensure information is accurate and creatively engage youth visitors. Kathy even became a certified Wildland Firefighter Type II and conducted prescribed burns!
North Dakota Department of Emergency Services
The small but mighty team at North Dakota Department of Emergency Services has had a profound impact on wildfire prevention in the state. The team’s creative products are visually appealing, engaging, and effective—like their “Learn Before You Burn” tagline. Staff members consistently take initiative to address fire prevention issues as they arise and go above and beyond to become the best possible storytellers of wildfire prevention messaging.
Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Wildland Fire Management and Communications Staff
The Wildland Fire Management and Communications staff at Washington DNR helped rebuild and improve the state’s wildfire prevention programming. The staff creatively increased public awareness of Smokey by developing trailer wraps and license plates featuring Smokey Bear, essentially creating mobile public displays. Many staff members enthusiastically took on roles outside their typical responsibilities, motivated by the innovative opportunities ahead and their passion for wildfire prevention.
SILVER
Clarence “Charlie” Berry
Charlie was a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) Volunteer in Prevention (VIP) for 45 years. He sadly passed away in December 2025. Charlie wasa constant source of fire prevention expertise not only in his community, but statewide and regionally through the Rose Bowl Parade and Camp Smokey at the California State Fair. His lifelong dedication to wildfire prevention, motivated only by passion, is inspiring to all.
GOLD
Sam Scranton
Sam was the Deputy Director of Fuels Management for the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA). He led the development of the Wildfire Prevention and Spatial Assessment and Planning Strategies (WPSAPS), a risk assessment tool that provides users with research-informed prevention actions based on a geospatial assessment of risks, hazards, and values. This modernized tool has reduced wildfire starts by as much as 20 percent on BIA lands. WPSAPS has now been implemented in several federal agencies and tribes and has potential for even greater wildfire prevention.
USDA Forest Service Southern Region Fire and Aviation Management, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Art, and the Southern Group of State Foresters
This interagency team collaborated with Atlanta Airport art program in Georgia to display Smokey Bear art by Rudy Wendelin and share wildfire prevention messaging throughan exhibit in a main terminal with millions of visitors from across the country and around the world. While a traditional advertising campaign of this size would be cost prohibitive, the Atlanta Airport art program did not charge for the exhibit space. During a lapse of funding in fall 2025, southern state forestry agencies stepped up to help staff the exhibit, interacting with visitors and answering questions about wildfires.
In addition to these nine awards, the CFFP is also awarding a certificate to recognize local achievements and the potential to earn a Smokey Bear Award in the future.
CERTIFICATE
Chief John Benson
Chief Benson is a valuable community leader and educator for wildfire prevention and mitigation in Boulder Mountain Fire Protection District in Colorado. His efforts have significantly expanded outreach in the area and engaged new audiences. Perhaps most importantly, Chief Benson inspired community members to practice wildfire preventionon a daily basis. The committee looks forward to seeing these efforts grow over the years.
“Wildfire prevention saves millions of dollars in suppression costs each year while helping save lives and property,” said Mark Goeller, NASF Vice President of Fire Programs. “This year’s Smokey Bear Award winners have implemented meaningful wildfire prevention that have and will continue to reduce wildfire impacts at the State, Regional, and National level.”
“This year’s Smokey Bear Award recipients have demonstrated exceptional dedication to wildfire prevention,” said Michelle Hillman, Ad Council Chief Campaign Development Officer. “Their efforts embody Smokey Bear’s spirit and enduring message, making a meaningful impact in their communities and across the country. We’re honored to recognize them and their contributions.”
The 2026 Smokey Bear Awards will be presented at NASF’s Annual Meeting in Lexington, Kentucky. The nominations period for the 2027 Smokey Bear Awards will open in April 2026 and close in December 2026.
USDA Forest Service
The Forest Service is the agency responsible for overseeing the use of Smokey Bear in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council. The Forest Service manages 193 million acres of national forests and grasslands for the American Public. Its mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
National Association of State Foresters
Since its start in 1920, the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) has served as a leading authority on forest management in the United States. NASF’s members are the primary delivery system for forest management activities nationwide. They conserve, enhance, and protect state and private forests, which encompass nearly two-thirds of the nation’s forests, and are responsible for wildfire protection on more than 1.5 billion acres. Learn more at www.stateforesters.org.
Ad Council
The Ad Council convenes creative storytellers to educate, unite and uplift audiences by opening hearts, inspiring action and accelerating change. For more than 80 years, the nonprofit organization and its partners in advertising, media, marketing and tech have been behind some of the country’s most iconic social impact campaigns – Smokey Bear, Friends Don’t Let Friends Drive Drunk, Tear the Paper Ceiling and many more. To learn more or get involved, visit AdCouncil.org, join the Ad Council’s communities on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, and view campaign creative on YouTube.