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NEWS RELEASE

COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA
Department of Conservation
and Natural Resources
Commonwealth News Bureau
Room 114, Main Capitol
Harrisburg, PA 17120

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Terry Brady
DCNR Deputy Press Secretary
(717) 772-9101

SMOKEY BEAR BALLOON BRINGING FIRE-PREVENTION MESSAGE TO STATE PARK, SKIES OF PENNSYLVANIA
Early morning lift-off planned at York County’s Gifford Pinchot State Park

HARRISBURG (May 20, 2004) — Smokey Bear will take his nationally recognized forest fire prevention message into the skies of Pennsylvania as a hot-air balloon, lifting off Saturday, May 29, from Gifford Pinchot State Park, near Lewisberry, York County, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) officials announced today.

“We are delighted that the national Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon (FSBB) is making a rare trip to Pennsylvania,” said John P. Berst, chief of the Bureau of Forestry’s Forest Fire Protection Division. “The primary purpose of the balloon program is to deliver messages on wildfire prevention to large audiences. What better venue than a state park on the Memorial Day Weekend?”

Weather permitting, inflation and eventual lift-off of the almost 100-foot-tall, manned hot-air balloon will begin at 6 a.m. Saturday, May 29, in the ball field at the Conewago Day-Use Area of Pinchot State Park. A forest fire prevention program continuing throughout the day at the park’s Quaker Race Day-use Area will include presentations by state foresters, guest appearances by Smokey, and a premature birthday celebration—complete with cake—for Smokey, who turns 60 Aug. 9.

Recipients of the USDA Forest Service’s highest award for prevention of carelessly caused wildfires, the New Mexico-based Friends of Smokey Bear Balloon assist Forest Service and state foresters in conveying wildfire prevention messages, and stimulating active support from others—schools, businesses, civic clubs, and individuals—interested in preventing human-caused wildfires.

It is estimated that because of the high-flying, huge head of Smokey Bear and his educational ground program, over 4 million people have been exposed to Smokey's message over the past several years.

Since the Smokey balloon's first public voyage in 1993 in New Mexico, where the original Smokey Bear was rescued from a wildfire, private and public sponsors increasingly have added their corporate names and agency support to the balloon-centered education effort. For details on individual and corporate balloon sponsorship during its Pennsylvania stay, May 21-30, contact Stewart Bush at (800) 957-5395.

The balloon also will be inflated at 6 a.m. Friday, May 28, and lift off from grounds of the Clarion Embers Hotel and Convention Center, 1700 Harrisburg Pike, Carlisle. The public is welcome to view the balloon launch. Other FSBB appearances include: May 22, Lewistown High School; May 23, Lewistown Recreational Park; both Lewistown, Mifflin County; May 26, Bermudian Springs Elementary School, York Springs, Adams County; May 27, Dillsburg Elementary School, Dillsburg, York County; and May 30, Raystown Lake, near Entriken, Huntingdon County.

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