North Dakota Department of Emergency Services recognized with national wildfire prevention award
WASHINGTON— May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and with North Dakota experiencing another active spring wildfire season, wildfire prevention is at the forefront of everyone’s mind. Each fire prevented is one that local responders don’t have to put out, underscoring the importance of each individual’s responsibility to work and recreate safely outdoors. One North Dakota state agency has been recognized for their outstanding efforts in communicating just that.
The partners behind the wildfire prevention legend Smokey Bear and his public service advertisement campaign—the longest running in United States history—announce this year’s recipients of the Smokey Bear Awards. 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.
The small but mighty team at North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) has had a profound impact on wildfire prevention in the state, earning them a Bronze level Smokey Bear Award. The communications team is led by Strategic Communications Chief, Alison Vetter, and supported by Autonomous Systems and Communications Specialist, Clint Fleckenstein.
The team’s creative products are visually appealing, engaging, and effective. Many may recognize the “Learn Before You Burn” tagline, urging North Dakotans to visit the interactive ND Fire Declarations and Burn Restrictions map to learn their local restrictions, fire danger, and red flag warnings before burning or recreating outdoors. Alison and Clint consistently take initiative to address fire prevention issues proactively and go above and beyond to become the best possible storytellers of wildfire prevention messaging.
Their statewide efforts identify unique and effective avenues to communicate these important public safety topics, addressing top human-caused fire causes like open burning and equipment use through reels, interviews, Gas Station TV, visits with local students, and GoodHealthTV kiosks found in local health units, schools, and other public buildings.
Alison and Clint effectively engage and collaborate with partners to deliver timely and accurate messaging, both proactively and in times of crisis. During the historic October 2024 wildfires, NDDES mobilized the Joint Information Center, responding to the elevated need for education, prevention, and response to determine messaging needs in real time. This included topics like publicizing daily fire danger, sharing resources for affected landowners, advocating for defensible space and safety tips, and messaging ways to minimize fire risk when harvesting, hunting, or enjoying the outdoors. Alison and her team worked over the winter of 2024-2025 to identify prevention efforts and causes, and crafted effective communications strategies to reduce wildfire occurrence, which proved necessary into an active spring 2025 fire season as well.
Alison and Clint’s artistry goes beyond simply conveying facts or changing behavior. After the devastation of the October 2024 wildfires, they created a documentary to highlight the value and appreciation for those who responded to the call and showcase the unique way North Dakota communities show up for one another in crisis.
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.
