Office of the Secretary

For Immediate Release: May 2, 2001

Contact: Mark Pfeifle 202-208-6416

Secretary Norton and the Oak Ridge Boys Launch
Wildland Fire Public Service Campaign

"We must be ready to protect communities and landscapes from wildland fires," says Norton

(WASHINGTON) - To step up recruitment of wildland firefighters and fuel maintenance workers for the upcoming fire season, Interior Secretary Gale Norton teamed up with the Oak Ridge Boys to launch a radio public service announcement campaign.

"We must ensure that we are prepared to meet the challenges of protecting communities and landscapes from the wrath of wildland fire," said Norton. "It's imperative that we not only have the equipment ready, but also enough well-trained men and women ready to meet this awesome challenge head on."

The Interior Department is working with other federal agencies, state, local and tribal governments to prepare for and fight wildland fires. The radio PSA's with Secretary Norton and the Oak Ridge Boys will be distributed to radio stations nationwide to help ensure that adequate firefighting and support personnel are available to protect America's public lands and communities from the upcoming fire season.

The wildland fire PSA's are being sent to 5,000 radio stations in selected areas of the country. The digital compact disc includes two 30 seconds spots and three 60 seconds spots. One of the 60 second spots is in Spanish. The Oak Ridge Boys volunteered their time for this very important initiative.

A worse than average fire season is already anticipated in Eastern states, especially Florida. This is due to the dry, and in many places, extreme drought conditions, continued below-normal precipitation, and the fact that these areas have yet to recover from the previous years of drought conditions.

As in the Southeast, the West has been suffering from generally drier than normal conditions since 1998. Given the meager snowpack and warmer than normal spring, the snowmelt will be well ahead of schedule. Depending upon the number, timing and intensity of the spring rains, and the June rains in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies, the West may experience a near- to above-average fire season.

Last year was the worst fire season in over 50 years, more than 92,000 wildland fires consumed 7.5 million acres of land. To listen to the PSA's, log onto http://www.doi.gov/news/psa010502.html

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