(Texas) The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is announcing that Eliseo "Chito" Garcia, a native of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, is one of the five recipients of the 2006 Bronze Smokey Bear Annual Award - the award is among the highest national honors one can receive for outstanding work and significant program impact in wildland fire prevention.
"Chito" is the South Texas Refuges Complex Fire Prevention Officer in charge of a program that educates the public about fire in the wildland urban interface and creates awareness of the need for continuing fire prevention efforts in the communities that surround three National Wildlife Refuges, Laguna Atascosa, Santa Ana and Lower Rio Grande Valley.
Since "Chito" began his Smokey Bear education efforts in 2001, there has been a drop of about 15% in human caused fires in the Lower Rio Grande Valley Refuge Complex. Those efforts have reached community schools and the messages carried into Mexico. He not only brought Smokey Bear and his fire prevention message to these areas, but he also took the opportunity to explain the difference between good and bad fire and what a bad fire can do to the land.
"Chitos dedication to the mission of the Service and his knowledge and understanding of the Lower Rio Grande Valley culture together have
resulted in an employee who has brought immeasurable value to the Refuge Complex," said Manager Ken Merritt. "Whether dealing with an arson investigation or trash dumping, Chitos first course of resolution is education, which helps people understand the mission of the Service and
how they can help preserve their environs simply by changing their actions."
"Chito" also received a Smokey Bear Certificate which is given to a few select awardees recognizing their potential to become future Smokey Bear Award recipients.
The National Association of State Foresters (NASF), the USDA Forest Service, and the Advertising Council sponsor the National Smokey Bear Awards.
Visit the Services website at http://www.fws.gov
