Monday, November 16, 2009

Smokey The Bear

Smokey The Bear
Growing up I always had fond memories of Smokey The Bear ads. How could you not listen to a cuddly, fluffy brown bear who cares about the nature. The Bears PR efforts were focused on the prevention of forest fires because of the devastating environment impact during the 1940's. "Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires," was a common slogan used in this age long campaign to encourage people to take great caution when starting a camp fire and informing them on how to properly extinguish their camp fire. I remember going camping as a kid and taking great caution in dousing everything near and around my fire with a heavy portion of water. Its hard to deny that Smokey had our best interest at heart, but in recent years the raging wild fires have caused us to take a deeper look at and study into fire prevention. The studies concluded that if no fires occur in nature, then the amount of leaves and other combustible material that build up create an environment that with a single spark could spur a massive tsunami like wave of fire and or fires. California has suffered this kind of onslaught more then other state for decades. A forest fire should not necessarily be looked at as the destructive force as Smokey was teaching, but rather with controlled and managed burns that a habitat can rejuvenate and allow much need nutrients to replenish the soil. The first Americans knew of this phenomenon. They would burn certain areas to remove brush and leaves so as to make it easier for game to live and thrive in the forest. When i say the first Americans, I am not speaking of the Pilgrims, but the American Indians. Its a shame we didn't take their practice to heart. In our obsession with believing that all fires are bad fires perhaps we could have spared innocent lives with the use of prevention through the management of fires. By no means do these words mean we should all become an arsonist, but that supporting controlled burning in your area could actually prove helpful and essential for forest regeneration. Much like the mythical Phoenix, from the ashes life will flourish with proper prescribed burning. Sorry Smokey The Bear, you should have gotten your facts right.