<p>What happened to Forest Fires?</p>
<p>Even Smokey the Bear has changed with the new millenium, now that we are 10 years into it.</p>
<p>Because we have learned that some forest fires are beneficial. Wild fires (think of areas in California near homes where the scrub catches fire) are dangerous and should be stopped or at least controlled. If we had let there be fires in the past, we would not get the huge fires we get now as the combustible undergrowth would have been burned off.</p>
<p>My guess is I doubt that any accidental forest fires caused by man(Smokey’s old point) are beneficial. I do suspect however, that they wanted to expand the thought to indicate man should be careful not to start Any accidental fires; no longer limiting it to just forests.</p>
<p>I am sure there is a good reason for the change. Actually, I don’t think the original slogan has been used for years.</p>
<p>It’s just that after 50+ years of hearing “forest fires” it’s a bit jarring to hear the revision to “wild fires.”</p>
<p>^^^Wouldn’t that mean people would listen to it more? Sometimes jarring is effective.</p>