Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires

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Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires

• The Story of Smokey the Bear
• By Rebecca K. Fraker

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This is the story of Smokey the Bear Who wants
you to treat our forests with care. A forest is
full of animals and trees. Its also home to
birds, fish, and bees. Smokey the Bear spends day
and night Making sure the forest is really right!
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Smokey works hard and he does not tire To make
sure he prevents a forest wildfire. He tells his
friends not to handle matches Because in a
forest, fire quickly catches. So keep forests
safe, so animals can roam. After all, the forest
is their home!
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Many years ago . . .

• In the Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico, it
  had been a hot, dry year.
• It was May, but the pine needles, leaves, and
  sticks were so dry that they would crackle and
  crunch when they were walked on by the animals.

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It was so hot . . .

• Deer and rabbits rested under the trees.
• Fish hid under the banks of the streams.
• Other animals moved slowly in the heat.

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One day a person. . .

• Who was visiting the forest was careless.
• No one knows if a match was dropped, or a
  campfire was left burning, or a cigarette was not
  crushed out.
• But one little spark, caused by one person,
  escaped.

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One little spark quickly became

• A huge wildfire. It quickly ignited the dry
  leaves and trees.
• It rapidly burned everything in the forest.

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Animals, fish, and birds . . .

• Tried to escape the fire.
• Many could not get away. They died from the
  heat, smoke, and fire.
• Even fish choked on ash in the streams or from
  hot water.

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Many firefighters . . .

• Fought for five days to put the wildfire out.

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In the midst of the fire . . .

• A frightened baby bear cub obeyed his mothers
  teaching, and climbed a tree.
• He clung to the tree through the heat, fire, and
  smoke.

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When the fire was finally out . . .

• The firefighters found a frightened bear cub
  clinging to a burned tree.
• Some of the cubs fur and his paws had been
  burned in the fire.
• The firefighters took care of the bear cub.
• They named him Smokey.

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All over the country . . .
People talked about Smokey. He grew into a big
bear and became a living symbol of wildfire
prevention.
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• Smokey eventually wore a Rangers hat in
  pictures. He educated people for many years,
  teaching them not to be careless with fire.
• His most famous phrase was
• Remember! Only YOU can prevent forest fires!

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Who Else Fights Fires?

• Through the years, there have been other
  characters, such as Woodsie Owl who have fought
  fires.
• This unit has a webquest designed to help you
  discover these characters.

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Resources
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www.smokeybear.com

• The official Smokey the Bear site.
• Games, info, workbooks, and more.
• Poster
• Graphs to track wildfires
• Not just for young children contains scientific
  real time data.

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More Resources

• http//www.usfa.dhs.gov/kids/flash.shtm
• United States Fire Administration site
• Can become a Junior Fire Marshall with
  certificate
• http//www.firefacts.org/teaching.htm
• teacher center
• www.smokeybeargifts.com
• a wealth of all things Smokey gifts as well as
  teaching supplies and badges

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Hot Foot Teddy The True Story of Smokey Bear

• Hot Foot Teddy, the True Story of Smokey Bear by
  Sue Houser is the true story of a badly burned
  bear cub found at a forest fire in New Mexico. 
  The book tells the life of Smokey and the program
  inspired by him.  It contains posters and images
  provided by the National Forest Service.  It is
  both a children's storybook and a teaching aid
  for adults and children and is a licensed product
  by the US Forest Service.
• The book can be purchased from the publisher's
  website  www.mtpublishing.com or telephone
  1-888-263-4702 for 15.95.