Fire Danger Sign, Montana
by Catherine Sherman
Title
Fire Danger Sign, Montana
Artist
Catherine Sherman
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
"Fire Danger Sign, Montana" by Catherine Sherman.
A sign featuring Smokey Bear warns about the "very high" risk of fire danger in Bigfork, Montana, in September 2018. The risk was also very high elsewhere in the area, including Glacier National Park. Bigfork is in Flathead County.
On August 11, 2018, lightning strikes caused three fires in Glacier National Park: the Howe Ridge Fire burning on the north side of Lake McDonald (opposite Lake McDonald Lodge), the Heaven’s Sake Fire burning below Heaven’s Peak (visible from the Going to the Sun Road), and the Numa Ridge Fire in the North Fork area of the park.
Most of the park remained open, but the western half of Going to the Sun Road, the main artery through the park, were closed for public safety and for firefighter access.
Smokey Bear is an American advertising icon created by the U.S. Forest Service. In the longest-running public service advertising campaign in United States history, the Ad Council, the United States Forest Service (USFS), and the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) employ Smokey Bear to educate the public about the dangers of unplanned human-caused wildfires
At the time I took this photograph (September 2018) more than a million and a half acres were burning in 15 states, from Arizona to Alaska, some caused by lightning, others by humans.
A campaign featuring Smokey and the slogan "Smokey Says – Care Will Prevent 9 out of 10 Forest Fires" began in 1944. His later slogan, "Remember... Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires" was created in 1947 and was associated with Smokey Bear for more than five decades. In April 2001, the message was officially updated to "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires." in response to a massive outbreak of wildfires in natural areas other than forests (such as grasslands), and to clarify that Smokey is promoting the prevention of unplanned outdoor fire versus prescribed fires. According to the Ad Council, 80% of outdoor recreationists correctly identified Smokey Bear's image and 8 in 10 recognized the campaign PSAs.
Featured in "Signs" group (10/15/2018)
Uploaded
September 15th, 2018
Statistics
Viewed 615 Times - Last Visitor from Wilmington, DE on 04/14/2024 at 5:38 PM
Embed
Share
Sales Sheet
Similar Images
Comments (1)
Lynn Sprowl
Always a great reminder...cool photo of Smokey the Bear! l/f
Catherine Sherman replied:
Thank you very much, Lynn! In the history of Smokey Bear I read that he was designed as a replacement for Bambi, whom the Disney company allowed to be a Forest Service "spokesman" for one year.
Recently Viewed
