Fire and burn prevention are more than just education, they are life-saving efforts that protect families, strengthen communities, and prevent devastating injuries before they happen. Every day, dedicated individuals, organizations, and fire service professionals work tirelessly to reduce risk, raise awareness, and ensure that people of all ages have the knowledge they need to stay safe.
The Camp I Am Me Fire Safety & Burn Prevention Awards provide an opportunity to shine a light on those who go above and beyond in this critical work. Each year, nominees are recognized at the annual Fire Prevention Week Luncheon, an event that celebrates leaders who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to protecting lives through education, advocacy, and prevention initiatives. Whether through long-standing programs, innovative partnerships, or consistent dedication within their communities, these individuals and groups represent the very best of what fire safety outreach can achieve.
By submitting a nomination, you are helping to elevate and honor the people and programs that are making communities safer every day. Recognition not only celebrates their achievements, but also inspires others to take action, expand prevention efforts, and continue building a culture of safety.
If you know someone who is making a meaningful impact through fire safety or burn prevention, this is your opportunity to ensure their work is seen, celebrated, and shared as a model for others to follow.
Nominations are open to individuals, fire departments, organizations, and corporations who have demonstrated excellence in fire safety and burn prevention efforts.
Award Description & Criteria
This award honors individuals, fire departments, or organizations that have established a proven record of excellence in fire safety or burn prevention. It recognizes programs that are thoughtfully developed, well implemented, and clearly effective in improving life safety outcomes.
Eligible recipients;
• Have created or implemented a strong safety or prevention program
• Demonstrate measurable, positive impact among the people they serve
• Consistently engage the community in meaningful prevention efforts
• Show leadership and dedication in reducing fire‑related injuries and risk
This award highlights individuals who demonstrate an ongoing commitment to fire safety and prevention within their community. It honors those who step up, often quietly, but consistently contribute to a safer, more informed public.
Eligible individuals;
• Promote fire safety through ongoing education or outreach
• Contribute meaningfully to prevention efforts at the local level
• Display initiative, passion, and reliability in supporting community safety
• Inspire others through consistent dedication and involvement
This award recognizes a business or corporation that has gone above and beyond in its commitment to fire safety and burn prevention. It celebrates organizations that do not just meet basic expectations, but take meaningful action to educate the public, strengthen community safety, and model responsible leadership.
Eligible businesses or corporations;
• Provide impactful fire safety or burn prevention education
• Develop or support programs that meaningfully improve public safety
• Demonstrate exceptional initiative or innovation in prevention outreach
• Show sustained commitment to reducing risk in the communities they serve
This prestigious award recognizes an individual whose fire‑safety leadership reaches beyond their own jurisdiction. It is reserved for someone who has not only excelled in developing or delivering fire safety or burn prevention programs, but has also influenced the broader fire service by elevating public education as an essential priority.
Eligible individuals;
• Deliver prevention programs that benefit audiences beyond their home community
• Are regarded by peers as leaders in fire safety and public education
• Exhibit superior work ethic, professionalism, and a standard others strive to emulate
• Demonstrate a long‑standing pattern of excellence, innovation, and impact
Nominations may be submitted at any time, but must be received no later than August 15th to be considered for the current year. Complete the Nomination Form below:
* Assistant Chief Wayne Robert Luecht of the Northbrook Fire Department received the Medal of Honor for his actions at an incident investigation in Northbrook, Illinois on June 11, 1999.
At 1 p.m., the Northbrook Fire Department responded to a local department store to investigate smoke that was coming out of an electrical closet. Firefighters determined that there was no live fire in the building, but because the store’s lights were inoperable, an electrician was summoned. As head of the Fire Prevention Bureau, Luecht accompanied the electrician, a building engineer, and a store manager to inspect the electrical panels in the store’s engineering room. The electrician was testing the store’s emergency circuit breakers when an electrical fault occurred, producing a fireball with temperatures in excess of 3,000 degrees.
Luecht and the electrician suffered critical third-degree burns, and the building engineer also suffered severe burns. Despite his severe injuries, Luecht was able to help direct the firefighters who responded to the explosion, instructing them to treat the other injured victims first. The electrician died the following day, and Luecht succumbed to his severe burns on June 21, 1999.
Wayne Luecht was a great proponent of fire safety and humanity. His work in fire prevention and fire safety education made him a highly respected figure in fire service circles. He was a visionary person to whom you looked for leadership and direction and always had a new angle or innovative program members of the fire department would follow.