After our exceptionally windy night at Valley of Fires Recreation Area we were on the road moving east again, and found ourselves in a chilly Capitan, New Mexico, home of the Smokey Bear Historical Park.
The historical park (both indoor and outdoor displays) features a lot of vintage Smokey items, as well as Smokey’s history, and Smokey’s grave.
Despite the “all fire is bad” messages of the past, there were displays acknowledging that fire is a natural part of a healthy ecosystem that is necessary to sustain life, as well as messaging around the need for people to maintain defensible space around their homes built in fire adapted ecosystems. A little nuance is a good thing.
Remember when the fireline handbook was still small enough to carry on the fireline? I do.
When I started my career in forestry and wildfire, Smokey was just turning 50. Now he is 80. Time flies.
Still the underlying message is a good one, “Only You” can prevent human caused fires. And a good stop on your way across highway 380 in New Mexico.
