"Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires" NOT Wildfires!
- Thread starter Brent
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I suppose because wildfire also covers fires in areas that aren't forest such as scrubland and grassland.
It was explained to me in environmental science class that natural fires can actually benefit a forest, by removing a lot of the detritus that builds up over time on the forest floor. But wildfires, which burn out of control and over a large area, do more harm than good and can destroy the entire forest. Hence the change in language.
At least I think that's the way it works. That class was taught by the most boring woman on the planet and I spent most of it going over test material for my Japanese class right after it.
At least I think that's the way it works. That class was taught by the most boring woman on the planet and I spent most of it going over test material for my Japanese class right after it.
Only you can run calling Wiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiildfiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiire..... 
Hi there... I work for NM State Forestry (The home of Smokey Bear), and am a wildland firefighter, so hopefully I can shed some light into it.
The Smokey Bear ad campaign grew out of the need to be vigilant during WWII when the threat from fire bombing from the Japanese (real or not) but more importantly the threat of human caused fires put our nation's wood supply in danger.. Lumber was an important part of the war effort, etc etc...
So the Bear was devised as a way to make people more aware of the danger. The slogan "Only You..." was found to be an effective tool that grew beyond its initial purpose.. It's catchy and easy to remember.
Time was that "Forest Fires" were all a bad thing.. For 100 years, any fire was considered bad, and something that must be suppressed. You can also add to that issue, envrionmental policies and lawsuits have virtually halted mechanical thinnings on many federal lands, but that is another soapbox I'll let the feds handle.
About 30 years ago, we discovered that our science about fire was wrong.We realized that naturally caused fires can do good in areas where they can safely be allowed to burn with low intensity, clearing the ground debris and smaller trees that compete with the big growth trees for water and sunshine. Natural fire along with mechanical treatments and prescribed fire brings the landscape back to pre-settlement conditions.
So, with this new realization, it was also found that Smokey's message about "Forest Fires" was too narrow in scope and it was changed to "Wildfires," to better represent the idea that all human caused fires are a potential threat to lives and communities. Not all forest fires are bad, so it presented a problematic mixed message.
For agencies like mine, changing the term to "Wildfire" also helps us convey the message to land not covered with trees. In the past few years, our biggest problem in New Mexico hasn't been our millions of acres of forests, but our millions of acres of rangeland. Hundreds of thousands of acres of grass and brush covered lands have burned here in the past 4 years, almost exclusively due to human causes.
Hopefully that answers a few questions. Also, while we're on the subject and just in case you're wondering, please remember that there's no "the" in Smokey Bear..
The Smokey Bear ad campaign grew out of the need to be vigilant during WWII when the threat from fire bombing from the Japanese (real or not) but more importantly the threat of human caused fires put our nation's wood supply in danger.. Lumber was an important part of the war effort, etc etc...
So the Bear was devised as a way to make people more aware of the danger. The slogan "Only You..." was found to be an effective tool that grew beyond its initial purpose.. It's catchy and easy to remember.
Time was that "Forest Fires" were all a bad thing.. For 100 years, any fire was considered bad, and something that must be suppressed. You can also add to that issue, envrionmental policies and lawsuits have virtually halted mechanical thinnings on many federal lands, but that is another soapbox I'll let the feds handle.
About 30 years ago, we discovered that our science about fire was wrong.We realized that naturally caused fires can do good in areas where they can safely be allowed to burn with low intensity, clearing the ground debris and smaller trees that compete with the big growth trees for water and sunshine. Natural fire along with mechanical treatments and prescribed fire brings the landscape back to pre-settlement conditions.
So, with this new realization, it was also found that Smokey's message about "Forest Fires" was too narrow in scope and it was changed to "Wildfires," to better represent the idea that all human caused fires are a potential threat to lives and communities. Not all forest fires are bad, so it presented a problematic mixed message.
For agencies like mine, changing the term to "Wildfire" also helps us convey the message to land not covered with trees. In the past few years, our biggest problem in New Mexico hasn't been our millions of acres of forests, but our millions of acres of rangeland. Hundreds of thousands of acres of grass and brush covered lands have burned here in the past 4 years, almost exclusively due to human causes.
Hopefully that answers a few questions. Also, while we're on the subject and just in case you're wondering, please remember that there's no "the" in Smokey Bear..
A marillion sighting! What's up, dude?
Thanks for the info. Haven't seen the commercial myself, but the change in terminology seems logical to me.
Thanks for the info. Haven't seen the commercial myself, but the change in terminology seems logical to me.
The day off all my childhood I remember most clearly is 7th February 1967, the day of the Tasmanian Black Tuesday bushfires.
On that day 125 fires burnt through over 2,600 square kilometres (650,000 acres) of Southern Tasmania in only 5 hours and 62 people died.
I was almost nine and I still cry when I remember what I saw on that day and the day that followed.
My grandparents' town was about 80% destroyed. For hours, after hearing that a firestorm had hit the town we didn't know if they, my uncle and aunt and cousins, were living or dead. It was only when my aunt managed to drive up to the city that we found out that they had survived. My grandparents' house was destroyed but my uncle's house was one of the few that stood. 11 people from this little town were among the dead.
The next day we all went down to see my grandparents. Along the way we saw dozens of dead sheep and cows in the fields. Farmers were walking around with guns shooting poor creatures that were still alive but badly injured.
When we got to my uncle's place my grandfather came out to the dining sat down and started to cry. I had never seen him cry before. He died 9 weeks later.
On that day 125 fires burnt through over 2,600 square kilometres (650,000 acres) of Southern Tasmania in only 5 hours and 62 people died.
I was almost nine and I still cry when I remember what I saw on that day and the day that followed.
My grandparents' town was about 80% destroyed. For hours, after hearing that a firestorm had hit the town we didn't know if they, my uncle and aunt and cousins, were living or dead. It was only when my aunt managed to drive up to the city that we found out that they had survived. My grandparents' house was destroyed but my uncle's house was one of the few that stood. 11 people from this little town were among the dead.
The next day we all went down to see my grandparents. Along the way we saw dozens of dead sheep and cows in the fields. Farmers were walking around with guns shooting poor creatures that were still alive but badly injured.
When we got to my uncle's place my grandfather came out to the dining sat down and started to cry. I had never seen him cry before. He died 9 weeks later.
marillion, you might be interested to learn about what equipment the men of Hobart had when they attempted to fight the 1967 Bushfires.
Details on my flickr photostream
Details on my flickr photostream
Hey there Auntie! Yes.. I'm back, sorta.. Just had to get back with my Peeps! How you doin'?
Guartho - Love the pic.. I immediately heard the "ding ding dung" sound in my head..
WHERE THE FUCK HAVE YOU BEEN? I've been stiiting here at O'Neill's for the past 6 months waiting for you
I think the biggest revelation for me here is that his name isn't Smokey The Bear. That's just so ingrained in my consciousness that I never questioned it.
I know.. It all goes back to the Smokey song that came out in the 50's, along with the Little Golden Book.. They put a "the" in there so it would fit the melody.. I tell kids that "You don't call him Santa "the" Claus, or Easter "the" Bunny, so it's not Smokey "the" Bear.. LOL.. I've also had some good natured arguements with more than a few adults.
A lot of people also don't know that the ad campaign bear came several years before the real bear, who was found up a tree here in New Mexico following a fire. Poor little guy was all burned and missing his mamma..
A lot of people also don't know that the ad campaign bear came several years before the real bear, who was found up a tree here in New Mexico following a fire. Poor little guy was all burned and missing his mamma..
Yeah, that came as a surprise to me, too. I already knew about the controlled burns to keep forests healthy.
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