In conjunction with the August 9^th official designation of Smokey Bear as the nationally recognized forest fire and wildfire prevention symbol the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) along with local elected officials and  representatives from Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, and the Manorville and Ridge volunteer fire departments will gather at Line Road and Grumman Boulevard, Manorville to designate a field on DEC’s Otis Pike Preserve – West property as Smokey Bear Field.

What: Smokey Bear and staff from DEC, Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services, and the Manorville and Ridge volunteer fire departments will:

• Watch as Smokey Bear unveils a sign naming the field in his honor
• Discuss Smokey’s wildfire prevention message: Only You Can Prevent Wildfires
• Showcase some of the tools DEC Forest Rangers and local fire departments use to fight wildfires in the region
• Discuss the history of DEC prescribed fire efforts and its accomplishments      

Who:             

• Smokey Bear
• Carrie Meek Gallagher, DEC Region One Regional Director
• Captain Tim Byrnes, DEC Regions One and Two Forest Ranger Captain
• Steve Bellone, Suffolk County Executive
• Edward Romaine, Town of Brookhaven Supervisor
• Chris Lindberg, Chief of Department, Manorville Fire Department
• Louis Kaiser, Chief of Department Ridge Volunteer Fire Department
  

Photo Opportunities

• Smokey Bear will unveil a sign dedicating the field
• Manorville Fire Department ladder truck with large American Flag
• Display of Manorville (ladder and brush truck) Ridge (brush truck and water tanker) and DEC Forest Ranger firefighting equipment and trucks (Type four and six engines).
• Display of Smokey Bear fire prevention material
• Elected Officials presentations
• Smokey Bear Cake Cutting