Day of forest protection from fire in the USA

More than 80% of Wildfires in the US Are Man-made. Wildfire Seasons are Becoming More Prolonged and Intense from Climate Change. More than four out of every five wildfires are caused by people. An average of 1.2 million acres of U.S. woodland burn every year. A large wildfire, or conflagration, is often capable of modifying the local weather conditions or producing “its own weather."

Forestry is vital in supporting the productive potential of agriculture by stabilizing soil, increasing groundwater recharge, providing shade, regulating local climate, improving nutrient cycling, etc.

Smokey Bear was born on Aug. 9, 1944, when the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council agreed that a fictional bear would be the symbol for their joint effort to promote wildfire prevention. Smokey Bear’s wildfire prevention campaign has had a dramatic impact since its introduction in 1944. This progress continues today, with an approximate 14 percent reduction in the average number of human-caused wildfires from 2011-2018, compared to the previous 10 years. While it’s clear his work has been successful, 9 out of 10 wildfires are still caused by humans, which means Smokey’s iconic message is as important as ever.