Smokey Bear Award winners announced

June 11, 2024

Photo: Linda Austin in safety gear on OHV. Text: Linda Austin began her firefighting career in 1988 & retired in 2022 as an engine captain on the Arapaho & Roosevelt National Forests & Pawnee National grassland. She tragically passed away on Aug. 25, 2023. Linda spearheaded activitieis & pioneered programming before a formal prevention program was established in her region. Throughout her career, she embodied Smokey's positive attitude & found ways to turn ordinary interactions into crucial teaching moments — Linda Austin found ways to turn ordinary actions into crucial teaching moments. (Graphic courtesy National Association of State Foresters)

WASHINGTON, D.C.—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 2024 national Smokey Bear Award recipients. 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.

In the world of wildfire prevention, there is no greater honor than receiving a Smokey Bear Award. From the 1950s to today, the Smokey Bear Awards program has been managed by the National Association of State Foresters, the Ad Council, and the USDA Forest Service. This year two Forest Service employees were honored with awards.

Linda Austin, who tragically passed away on Aug. 25, 2023, dedicated her 34-year career to fire management and used her passion to build prevention programming on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grasslands. Her positive attitude and ability to turn ordinary interactions into teaching moments personified Smokey Bear.

Photo: Maureen Brooks. Text: Maureen Brooks retired in 2023 as branch chief for wildfire prevention & community mitigation. Prior to joining the Forest Service, she worked in fire prevention for the MD Forest Service for 20 years. In 2010, she received a silver Smokey Bear award for her long-term planning in region 9 (Northeast/Midwest). As branch chief, she provided invaluable expertise to the national Smokey Bear campaign & led licensing operations. She led the gold-winning 75th birthday national team. — Maureen Brooks dedicated her career to fire prevention. (Graphic courtesy National Association of State Foresters)

Maureen Brooks retired in 2023 as Branch Chief for Wildfire Prevention and Community Mitigation. She dedicated her career at the Maryland Forest Service and USDA Forest Service to fire prevention. Brooks provided invaluable expertise to the national Smokey Bear campaign and led licensing operations. Her career was marked by her foresight, constant consideration about the next generation, and preparation for Smokey’s 80th birthday.

The 2024 Smokey Bear Awards will be presented at Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday celebration and poster contest award ceremony at the USDA headquarters in Washington, D.C., Aug. 9.

You can get to know this year’s awardees, as well as past winners, with a visit to Smokey Bear's website. The nomination period for the 2025 Smokey Bear Awards is now open and will close in December 2024.

To learn more or get involved, visit the Ad Council website, join the Ad Council's communities on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X, and watch campaign videos on YouTube.