Piaoe aA US DE ByOUNG Be Uriel kT aN ia 
Forest Fire Prevention 
WE WANT TO enjoy our wildlife in the fields, woods, mountains, and streams. 
We want to protect and perpetuate wildlife so that we can pass on this God- 
given heritage to the generations which follow. We can protect our wildlife 
by guarding against floods, by not mowing where quail abound, by not plow- 
ing up nests, and by being careful of forest fires. 
The U.S. Division of Forestry in Washington, D.C., has a very fine fire 
prevention program known as “Smokey the Bear” which is very effective. 
They are giad to supply any group with posters, blotters, rules, signs and 
other material in an effort to remind the public how to be careful of forest 
fires. Let’s get back of the “Smokey the Bear” program. When the U.S. 
Forest Service tells us that in 1954 over 390 fires destroyed 39,818 acres of 
woods in our state, we should be aware of the menace of forest fires. 
There are three main causes of fires in the forest. These are men, women 
and children. Only 10 per cent of our forest fires are due to natural causes 
such as lightning and spontaneous combustion. Many fires are due to care- 
lessness and ignorance. Fires in the forest take their toll of wildlife. The 
forest is the home of the deer, the bear, the rabbit, the chipmunk, the squir- 
rel, and many birds. The streams are the home of trout and many other fish. 
Many birds and animals are trapped and burned alive when fire strikes a 
forest. Fish are suffocated by streams polluted from silt and debris. Even 
for the creatures that survive, nests and homes are destroyed, and the 
grasses, nuts, berries and seeds on which they live are gone. 
We can prevent this ourselves by being careful and following these five 
rules: 
One — Hold your match until it’s cold — then pinch it to make sure. 
Two — Crush out all your smokes — dead out. Where there’s an ash tray, 
use it. 
Three — Drown your campfire, then stir the ashes and drown again. 
Four — Remember: Setting fire on lands of another without permission is 
a violation of state law. 
Five — If you must use fire to clear old fields or fence rows, to burn brush 
or trash, ask about the law; get a permit if required. Then follow safe rules; 
burn on calm days only; have help and tools on hand from start to finish; 
kill every spark. 
We can use the “Smokey the Bear” material to inform others and remind 
them of the dangers. Radio, television and the newspaper are good mediums. 
If we are to help in the conservation of wildlife, we must start with the 
things that destroy it. You — the picnicker, tourist, sportsman, camper, 
rancher, farmer, miner and American youngster — have direct responsibili- 
ty for the prevention of forest fires. If your business or pleasure leads you 
into or near the forest, the protection of woods.and wildlife depends to a 
large extent upon how you act. Only YOU can prevent forest fires. 
214 W. Wesley, Wheaton, Il. 
