Last Updated on June 24, 2019 by Ellen Christian
Do you know how you can prevent forest fires? I’m sure that we’re all familiar with stories of a carelessly tossed cigarette starting a forest fire. Or, times when children played with matches and started a fire. I know that I’ve had discussions with my kids many times about the dangers of fire and possibility of starting a forest fire. But, did you know that there are other common ways that forest fires can be started? I’m sharing this information today because it’s important to me.
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How You Can Prevent Forest Fires
The fact that fires were raging in California on Smokey’s 72nd birthday this week proves how much this conversation is needed. Coinciding with Smokey Bear’s birthday, the Ad Council, the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF), have launched a new series of public service advertisements (PSAs) that aim to help prevent wildfires nationwide by increasing awareness about less commonly known fire starts.
The new “Rise from the Ashes” campaign uses wildfire ashes as an artistic medium to illustrate the devastation caused by wildfires and highlight lesser known wildfire starts. Check it out here:
The TV PSAs play out in reverse with the ashes themselves rising up and Smokey Bear stepping into the situation to help show the correct preventative action that should be taken to avoid igniting a wildfire. The print PSAs include art created using ashes from an actual wildfire. They depict the impact that wildfires from unexpected sources can have on communities.
Did you know? A wildfire can start due to the following:
- Improperly extinguished fire pit
- Dumping ashes from a BBQ/grill
- Metal chains hanging from a moving vehicle
- Parking over tall, dry grass
- Dying embers left in a campfire
Smokey Bear’s message about wildfire prevention is the center of the longest-running and one of the most successful PSA campaigns in our nation’s history. Although progress has been made, accidental, human-caused wildfires remain one of the most critical environmental issues affecting the U.S. Smokey’s message is as relevant today as it was in 1944 and he continues to have an incredible impact on our country.
Can you do your part to help? Take the Pledge on https://smokeybear.com to help stop the spread of wildfires.
Ellen is a busy mom of a 24-year-old son and 29-year-old daughter. She owns six blogs and is addicted to social media. She believes that it doesn’t have to be difficult to lead a healthy life. She shares simple healthy living tips to show busy women how to lead fulfilling lives. If you’d like to work together, email info@confessionsofanover-workedmom.com to chat.
We’re just having one fire after another here in California. It is so devastating to hear how people are displaced when this occurs and that they lost everything. Great post to keep in mind especially now.
Thanks, Deb. It’s such a tragedy!
This is very important information
I agree!