Wildfires frighten the heck out of me.  Tahoe experienced the horrific Angora Fire in 2007 as the result of an illegal campfire.  Knowledge and awareness are powerful foes of fear so I am excited about this week of Wildfire Awareness Films at Explore Tahoe:  An Urban Trailhead.

Today, we met Smokey Bear and watched part of the film "The Greatest Good", a US Forest Service Centennial Film that covered stories and the history of Smokey Bear.  It included decades worth of Public Service Announcements that brought back childhood memories and ended with a slideshow of Fire Prevention posters through the years.

These posters have been an important part of forest fire prevention advertising since the 1930s. There has been little change in the fire prevention message, but the posters themselves reflect the constantly changing styles, attitudes, and events in American culture.  In 1944, Smokey Bear came to us by necessity. At the beginning of World War II, Americans feared that an enemy attack or sabotage could destroy our forest resources at a time when wood products were greatly needed. Time was ripe for a Smokey Bear icon.  The 'date specific' Smokey Bear posters surprised me but a brief study of history, of the time, explains their purpose.  I learned a great deal today.

After seeing the devastation of human carelessness locally, Smokey's message is still very powerful "Only YOU can prevent forest fires".