07 Oct

On Tuesday, October 6th, family, friends and colleauges of Smokey Bear, gathered at Bear Brook State Park in Allenstown to honor a true champion of the fire service, Alfred E. Grimes at the unveiling of the park's newest building named in his honor.

A permanent member of the Durham-UNH Fire Department  for 14 years, and a lifelong volunteer for neighboring Madbury, Al found his calling as a NH Forest Fire Ranger in 1972 and quickly fell into the role of fire prevention and training specialist.  After many years of hard work promoting fire safety, he retired, but held onto his passion for wildfire prevention, acting as a Commissioner for the Northeast Forest Fire Protection Commission.  Staying active, he and his wife Sylvia reached even further and became well known throughout the country traveling as a team around the US in their RV teaching children and adults alike about Smokey Bear.  But sadly after 40,000 miles and Gold and Silver National Smokey Awards recognizing their hard work and dedication, Al was forced to hang up his hat after a short battle with cancer, passing away in 2008.  A catalyst for prevention was lost.

The Alfred E. Grimes building serves as an office for Rangers, business offices, operations warehouse and meeting place, an offer, however small for his many years of perseverance and love for New Hampshire's and US woodlands.  Thanks to the Grimes family, the National Smokey Awards and other memorabila are preserved and are on display at the building.