Educational Media Reviews Online

We are familiar with the image of “Smokey” the bear and his “Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires” message. The United States Forest Service campaign lasted for over fifty years and was so successful that it is now difficult to convince the public that fire is a natural part of the landscape and that fire-suppression is not always the most appropriate course of action. Viewers learn that fire-suppression leads to increased fuel loads that, in turn, can result in the catastrophic fires that are occurring with greater frequency.

Fire is being re-introduced as a forestry management tool and the prescribed burning program undertaken at Banff National Park is used to showcase the positive role fire can play--rejuvenating the landscape and recycling nutrients. Smaller “control burns” keep fuel levels stable. Preventative care is preferable to fire-suppression programs which can be very expensive. Prescribed burns and carefully planned rural home building can reduce or eliminate losses experienced during wildfires.

This documentary originally aired as part of the CBC series The Nature of Things and is hosted by David Suzuki. Interviews with forestry researchers and practicing foresters are woven together with footage of forest fires and fire-suppression crews. There is some repetition and the film could be shortened but the overall message is well presented and there are no other films available on this topic.

Highly recommended for junior-high through adult audiences.