Palmer Smokey Bear Traditional Geocache
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(regular)
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This cache is geared towards kids, so they may learn about Smokey Bear and his Fire Safety Rules. Please feel free to take one of each item, especially the booklet that has Smokey’s Rules listed in it. This cache is very accessible including parking and wheelchair access with beautiful mountain views.
The Mat-Su Area (MSA) is the location of one of the nation’s worst fire disasters, the Miller’s Reach Fire of 1996. This fire was human caused and destroyed approximately 450 structures and scorched 37,000 acres of land. The MSA has responsibility to a challenging fire prevention program. It is tasked with providing community fire protection in the “Urban Interface” and is located within the fastest growing borough in the state.
There are approximately 88,995 residents and approximately 30,000 improved properties (Mat-Su Borough Census 2010) that are located within the wildland fire protection service areas of the Mat-Su Valley. Our Area also provides wildland fire protection to the residents and improvements of the largest municipality (Anchorage) in the State of Alaska, with a population of approximately 300,950 (2013 U.S. Census Bureau).
The Alaska Interagency Wildland Fire Management Plan establishes four fire management options for locations within the State of Alaska, They are: Critical, Full, Modified and Limited. These wildland fire management options range from immediate and aggressive suppression to periodic surveillance. The highest priority of suppression response is given to fires occurring in or threatening a critical management location. The critical management option was specifically created to give the highest priority of suppression action on wildland fires that threaten human life and inhabited property.
The State of Alaska Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry (DOF) has performed a risk assessment within its jurisdictional boundaries. The communities of both the Matanuska-Susitna Borough and the Municipality of Anchorage have been identified as areas with the highest potential risk to life and property from the threat of wildland fire in the State, and are therefore within the designated “Critical Protection Areas”.
It is the goal of the Mat-Su Area to reduce the numbers of human caused fires, and the possibility of wildfire related injuries and/or deaths in these communities. To meet this goal, the MSA will pursue an aggressive public education program of fire safe practices along with enforcement policies commensurate with state statutes and regulations for wildland fire protection.
General Burn Permits may be picked up at this cache location. Fire Season is declared from April 1st through August 31st of each season, and permits for open burning are required during this period. Campfires or Cooking fires do not require a Burn Permit. Any persons burning outside these months or having a campfire or cooking fire are still required to burn safely and responsibly, and can be held liable for negligent burning and/or fire escapement. The Mat-Su Area Office has set a high standard for fire prevention through education, and has taken an aggressive role in enforcement of State Statutes for the protection of all Forested lands within its jurisdictional boundaries.
Activity Involved in Cause of Fire
Year 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Five Year Average
Camping 14 23 5 13 11 13.2
Children 1 5 6 2 2 3.2
Debris Burning 35 40 23 41 23 32.4
Equipment Use 7 5 2 5 5 4.8
Fireworks 0 3 0 1 1 1
Incendiary 1 2 1 1 0 1
Lightning 0 1 2 8 0 2.2
Miscellaneous 3 3 8 9 8 6.2
Power lines 6 6 0 3 10 5
Railroad 0 0 0 1 0 0.2
Smoking 0 0 0 3 0 0.6
TOTAL 67 88 47 87 60 69.8
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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