Pennsylvania Forest Fire Wardens Association

Wardens Helping in Prevention

The Wardens Helping in Prevention, WHiP, program was implemented several years ago as an incentive program to get Forest Fire Wardens more involved in Wildfire Prevention activities in their local communities.  It consists of award certificates, patches, pins, ball caps, etc.  These awards are given based on the number of programs a warden conducts or assists with in a given calendar year.  These programs must be intended to increase awareness of Wildfire Prevention, Firewise, or both.  Often, Smokey Bear, Ambassador of the Forest and Official Spokesbear for Wildfire Prevention, assists with these programs.

WHiP awards are given based on the following structure:

• Certificate - 1 or more programs in a given calendar year

• Patch - 4 or more programs in a given year, Rockers awarded for additional years

• Ball Cap - Patch qualified for 2 consecutive years

• Pin - Patch qualified for 2 years, need not be consecutive

• Vest - Patch qualified for 4 consecutive years

Then there is the coveted BullWHiP.  The BullWHiP is awarded to the Forest District with the greatest number of Patch Qualified WHiP wardens.  In the event of a tie, the tie breaker is the overall number of programs conducted within the district.