Francis Skalicky
Media Specialist
Missouri Dept. of Conservation
To honor Smokey Bear's 75th
birthday, MDC and the Missouri
State University band are
inviting the public to do the
Hokey Pokey with Smokey on four
nights at the MDC building
on the west side of the
Fairgrounds during this year's
Ozark Empire Fair. Here are the
dates Smokey will be at the Fair
to hokey pokey with his fans of
all ages:
Thursday, July 25
Friday, July 26
Wednesday, July 31
Friday, Aug. 2.
The dancing will occur,
weather-permitting, at
approximately 6:30 p.m. and 7:30
p.m. on these select nights in
front of the MDC building with
music provided by MSU's Brass
and Sass Band. Inside the MDC
building will be an assortment
of Smokey Bear give-away items.
Also on display in the MDC
building will be live fish,
snakes, and an assortment of
free information on Missouri's
fish, forest, and wildlife
resources.
The Ozark Empire Fair runs from
July 25 through August 3. The
MDC building will be open 11
a.m.-9 p.m. each day of the
fair.
Smokey Bear is a product of the
U.S. Forest Service, the
National Association of State
Foresters, and the Ad Council;
but every state's forestry
agency - including Missouri's -
has
adopted this congenial animal to
help spread awareness about fire
safety. Smokey Bear was created
in 1944 amidst World
War II concerns that America's
valuable forests could be harmed
by accident or arson. Many
generations can
remember Smokey appearing at
public events or in ads with his
memorable message "Remember,
Only You Can
Prevent Forest Fires."
MAKING A CAMPFIRE
Follow these best practices when
creating a campfire:
Â. Clear a generous zone
around fire rings. When humidity
is low and wind is high, debris
can become tinder for a stray
spark or ember.
Â. Never use gasoline,
kerosene, or other flammable
liquids to start a fire.
Â. Keep campfires small
and controllable.
Â. Store unused firewood
a good distance from the fire.
Â. Keep
fire-extinguishing materials,
such as a rake,
shovel, and bucket of water,
close by.
Â. Never leave a
campfire unattended. Extinguish
campfires each night and before
leaving camp.
Around your home
Â. Clean roofs and
gutters of dead leaves, debris
and pine
needles that could catch embers.
Â. Replace or repair any
loose or missing shingles or
roof
tiles to prevent ember
penetration.
Â. Clean debris from
exterior attic vents and install
1/8 inch metal mesh screening to
reduce embers.
Â. Move any flammable
material away from wall
exteriors - mulch, flammable
plants, leaves and needles,
firewood piles - anything that
can burn. Remove anything
stored underneath decks or
porches.
Â. Clear vegetation from
under large stationary propane
tanks.
Â. Keep lawns and native
grasses mowed to a height of
four inches or less.
Â. Remove what's called
"ladder fuels" (vegetation under
trees) so a surface fire cannot