Delaware News

Forest Service and Smokey Bear Spread Fire Safety Message to First-Grade Students

Department of Agriculture | Forest Service | Date Posted: Monday, October 7, 2013



Delaware Forest Service Trainer-Educator Ashley Peebles oversees the successful Smokey Bear fire prevention education program that reaches around 9,000 first-grade students each year.
Delaware Forest Service Trainer-Educator Ashley Peebles oversees the successful Smokey Bear fire prevention education program that reaches around 9,000 first-grade students each year.

Click here for Delaware Forest Service – 2013 Smokey Bear Programs in each county. News media are kindly asked to contact each school for permission to visit and take photos.

As part of National Fire Prevention Month in October, Smokey Bear is once again prowling the First State to spread the timeless message that “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.” The iconic public service mascot is the centerpiece of the Delaware Forest Service’s annual fire prevention education programs targeted primarily to first-grade students in all of the state’s private, public, and charter schools. Ashley Peebles, an award-winning Trainer-Educator for the Delaware Forest Service, coordinates the successful effort that reaches around 9,000 students annually.

As part of the interactive school programs, children learn about the many benefits trees provide – oxygen, shade and heat, wildlife habitat, and valuable wood products – which are why trees need to be protected from the destruction caused by wildfires, which needlessly burn millions of acres each year in the United States. After watching an informative video about fire prevention, students learn the ABC’s (Always Be Careful) of fire prevention, after which they get to meet Smokey Bear in-person. Every student is asked to personally make the Smokey Pledge to never play with matches and be careful around fire.

Ashley Peebles is as optimistic as ever that children will pay attention and heed the important warning against playing with matches.

“When children shake Smokey’s hand, every child has to make a solemn promise that they will never, ever play with matches. If a child should find matches, they are told to tell an adult immediately,” she said.

Created in 1944, the Smokey Bear campaign is the longest running public service campaign in U.S. history. Smokey’s forest fire prevention message remained unchanged for 50 years until April 2001, when the Ad Council updated his message to address the increasing number of wildfires in the nation’s wildlands. As one of the world’s most recognizable fictional characters, Smokey’s image is protected by U.S. Federal Law and is administered by the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council. A wealth of information can be found on the internet at www.smokeybear.com.

For more information about Delaware’s Smokey Bear program, please contact Ashley Peebles at 302-698-4551, ashley.peebles@delaware.gov

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Forest Service and Smokey Bear Spread Fire Safety Message to First-Grade Students

Department of Agriculture | Forest Service | Date Posted: Monday, October 7, 2013



Delaware Forest Service Trainer-Educator Ashley Peebles oversees the successful Smokey Bear fire prevention education program that reaches around 9,000 first-grade students each year.
Delaware Forest Service Trainer-Educator Ashley Peebles oversees the successful Smokey Bear fire prevention education program that reaches around 9,000 first-grade students each year.

Click here for Delaware Forest Service – 2013 Smokey Bear Programs in each county. News media are kindly asked to contact each school for permission to visit and take photos.

As part of National Fire Prevention Month in October, Smokey Bear is once again prowling the First State to spread the timeless message that “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.” The iconic public service mascot is the centerpiece of the Delaware Forest Service’s annual fire prevention education programs targeted primarily to first-grade students in all of the state’s private, public, and charter schools. Ashley Peebles, an award-winning Trainer-Educator for the Delaware Forest Service, coordinates the successful effort that reaches around 9,000 students annually.

As part of the interactive school programs, children learn about the many benefits trees provide – oxygen, shade and heat, wildlife habitat, and valuable wood products – which are why trees need to be protected from the destruction caused by wildfires, which needlessly burn millions of acres each year in the United States. After watching an informative video about fire prevention, students learn the ABC’s (Always Be Careful) of fire prevention, after which they get to meet Smokey Bear in-person. Every student is asked to personally make the Smokey Pledge to never play with matches and be careful around fire.

Ashley Peebles is as optimistic as ever that children will pay attention and heed the important warning against playing with matches.

“When children shake Smokey’s hand, every child has to make a solemn promise that they will never, ever play with matches. If a child should find matches, they are told to tell an adult immediately,” she said.

Created in 1944, the Smokey Bear campaign is the longest running public service campaign in U.S. history. Smokey’s forest fire prevention message remained unchanged for 50 years until April 2001, when the Ad Council updated his message to address the increasing number of wildfires in the nation’s wildlands. As one of the world’s most recognizable fictional characters, Smokey’s image is protected by U.S. Federal Law and is administered by the National Association of State Foresters and the Ad Council. A wealth of information can be found on the internet at www.smokeybear.com.

For more information about Delaware’s Smokey Bear program, please contact Ashley Peebles at 302-698-4551, ashley.peebles@delaware.gov

image_printPrint

Related Topics:  , , ,


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.