Did Smokey the Bear Cause the Canadian Wildfires?
Sounds crazy, right? So no, of course the devastating Canadian wildfires that are currently raging were not caused by the conservationist mascot, Smokey the Bear. However, those in Canada who are living through this tragedy, and those of us who are watching the disaster play out daily on our television screens and computer monitors might be interested to know that Smokey the Bear may actually symbolize a message and a policy that has morphed over the years into perhaps “too much of a good thing.”
As Smokey Bear’s mantra of wildfire prevention has spread, and national parks and other forests have prospered in the U.S. and Canada, these same forests have had their natural fire cycles disrupted. Consequently, when wildfires do occur in both the U.S. and Canada, they tend to be ever more severe and disruptive to those who live in what is referred to as the wildland-urban interface.
The legend of Smokey Bear began in the early 1940’s and became what has been referred to as “the most iconic image in fire-fighting history.”(SmokeyBear) This friendly bear, with his tag line “Only you can prevent wildfires!” became well known over the last 70 or so years not only within firefighting and conservation communities. Smokey for many years now has been an iconic figure in American popular culture, with 96% of American’s saying that they are familiar with dear Smokey. (Could Smokey Bear Have It All Wrong?)
When Smokey the Bear came on the scene in the early 1940’s, America lost 30 to 40 million acres of forest to wildfire per year, on average. Today, the acreage lost to wildfire averages between 5 to 8 million annually, and this despite great increases in population. (Could Smokey Bear Have It All Wrong?) So Smokey’s message has been quite effective, apparently. The trouble is though, that for many years (perhaps as far back as the early 1960’s), wildfire experts have lobbied to fight wildfires by lighting wildfires. (It’s Time to Retire Smokey Bear) Yup! It has long been well known in the firefighting community that a certain amount of wildfire is healthy for the ecosystem, and can be preventative of the types of explosive situations we have seen in Canada this week. So at times forestry officials will intentionally, and strategically, light wildfires, or allow fires that have been started as the result of natural causes to burn. Is this contrary to Smokey’s message? Well, no. Not really. It is still very important for individuals who are in or near the woods to take great care to not inadvertently cause a wildfire. However, as more and more people have settled in areas in and around forests, referred to as the wildland-urban interface, fire prevention has become more complex. It is no longer sufficient (or possible) to maintain a strategy with a primary focus of preventing fires. Wildfires must now be “managed” in a holistic manner. Not only are policies such as intentional burning a critical component of such a strategy, but other elements, such as building codes, landscaping choices, zoning, land use (to mention but a few) are imperative to consider. (Wildfire, Wildlands, and People)
What we are witnessing in Canada today is undoubtedly a clear and present danger in many parts on the United States as well. However, it is beyond the intent of this article to comprehensively discuss the wide variety of policies and actions that are necessary for U.S. communities in the wildland-urban interface to reduce their vulnerability to similar devastation.
Rather, this short read points out that, while Smokey Bear is certainly not the cause of the wildfire devastation that is taking place in Canada today, a reliance on a one-dimensional strategy of “prevention” has long been a thing of the past among experts. Now, it is time for all of those who live in or near the wildland-urban interface to reduce their vulnerability by seeking knowledge and taking the appropriate steps to prepare and protect their homes and communities from wildfire.
