National Fire Plan Success Story
Media Campaign
North Carolina Division of Forest Resources
National Fire Plan - Community Assistance
2006
The North Carolina Division of Forest Resources (NCDFR), along with an advertising agency, developed a media campaign to educate residents about the state’s wildfire problem. This campaign was done in conjunction with messages about the need for proper forest management and Southern Pine Beetle prevention. The campaign includes four radio messages and four television commercials to discuss how people can reduce the number of wildfires, manage their forests, and prevent Southern Pine Beetle outbreaks. This campaign was funded in part by the National Fire Plan and used:
- Radio and TV messages to address the need to protect and manage the States vital forest resources;
- A network of radio and TV stations to reach a wide audience;
- Catchy spots using professional voicing and dubbing;
- A toll free phone number to call and receive assistance (1-877-962-7526);
- Messages in both English and Spanish; and,
- A logo to be used on all print, web and television media.
This multi-media campaign was an excellent way for residents, especially homeowners in or near forested areas, to learn about the need to protect and manage our forest in North Carolina. The campaign reiterates through multiple messages in each area of North Carolina an important fact: as the state’s population grows, so does the need to protect and manage our forests.
The Division of Forest Resources is using the media campaign to:
- Expand on the Division’s education efforts on the topic of the wildland urban interface & wildfire prevention, along with Southern Pine Beetle prevention and proper forest management.
- Educate people through repeated messages on the same radio stations in rural and urban areas of North Carolina most affected by wildfire.
- Introduce more people, English and Hispanic, to the need to prevent wildfires.
Contact: Chris Carlson, North Carolina Division of Forest Resources, 919-857-4819, chris.carlson@ncmail.net.