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Take the Pledge with Smokey Bear

posted by Melissa Breyer Aug 9, 2008 5:00 am
Take the Pledge with Smokey Bear
6 comments

It’s Smokey Bear’s 60th birthday today! In honor of this ursine crusader for our forests, may we interest you in taking the “Get Your Smokey On” Wildfire Pledge? At the time of this posting, there are 37 active large wildfires across the country. And to date, almost 4 million acres of forest have burned this year alone. Although most of us have no intention of setting a devastating fire, last year 73,446 wildfires were caused by careless human behavior (as opposed to 12,261 that were caused by lightning). Astonishingly, in 2006, there was a total of 9.8 million acres burned from wildfires.

According to the Smokey Bear website, these are the most common ways in which forest fires caused by human error are started:

1. Unattended debris burning.
2. Equipment fires such as from lawnmowers, ATVs, power equipment.
3. Smoking.
4. Unattended campfires.
5. Children playing with matches or lighters.
6. Fireworks.

So why not wish Smokey a happy birthday by showing your commitment to wildfire prevention? Take the Wildfire Pledge!

More on Family Life (215 articles available)
More from Melissa Breyer (489 articles available)

6 comments

6 comments

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6 comments add your comment
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Vural K.

thankyou...
Kabin
Konteyner
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Dara W.

Unfortunately, many people do not realize that fire plays a critical role in the health of forest ecosystems, especially the boreal forest that is found in northern regions. Here in Alaska, we have a let-it-burn policy (unless people or structures are threatened) because many of our forests are dependent on fire. The picture above is a perfect example of a fire adapted habitat. The chaparral habitat, which is most common in the south-west (e.g. Southern CA), requires fire for the germination of many plant species that are only found there. Much of the natural vegetation is being replaced by foreign species because of fire suppression. Even the great plains are a product of fire. Fire prevents the growth of trees within the plains habitat. Even now, what is left of the natural prairie is disappearing as trees, unchecked by fire, encroach on prairie habitat. Please, do not assume that all fire should be suppressed. I am not advocating for human-caused fire, which are most often started close to population centers with often deadly consequence, but please remember that fire is a natural process that promotes the health of many of our forest ecosystems. Also, the more we suppress natural fires, the larger and more detrimental the human-caused fires become. Thanks for listening.

Dara W.

Unfortunately, many people do not realize that fire plays a critical role in the health of forest ecosystems, especially the boreal forest. Here in Alaska, we have a let-it-burn policy (unless people or structures are threatened) because many of our forests are dependent on fire. The picture above is a perfect example of a fire adapted habitat. The chaparral habitat, which is most common in the south-west (e.g. Southern CA), requires fire for the germination of many plant species that are only found there. Much of the natural vegetation is being replaced by foreign species because fire is suppressed. Even the great plains are a product of fire. Fire prevents the growth of trees within the plains habitat. Even now, what is left of the natural prairie is disappearing as trees, unchecked by fire, encroach on the prairie habitat. Please, do not assume that all natural fire is bad. I am not advocating for human-caused fire, which are most often started close to population centers and, therefore, more likely to threaten people and structures, but please remember that fire is a natural process that promotes the health of many of our forest ecosystems. Also, the more we suppress natural fires, the larger and more detrimental the human-caused fires become. Thanks for listening.

suzanne o.

surely we can prevent & forsee all the fires , even before the summer season ? - it is a matter of showing real concern & care , asking the authoroties, so they don't feel threatened of losing their jobs - prevention still equals a valid job/salary.
Are they having these fires as an excuse to build afterwards?
What about the poor animals burnt up ? don't people care about those babies & their afterlives ?

Bette M.

"There is nothing
in which the birds differ
more from man than
the way in which they can
build and yet leave a landscape
as it was before."
Robert Lynd

PLANT TREES FOR LIFE.....

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