The Canadian FireSmart program has introduced a new mascot.
The program dedicated to reducing wildfire risks will now be fronted by Ember the Fox. The fox was named after a contest that garnered more than 500 submissions from across Canada. Arlene S. from Swansea Point in B.C.'s interior submitted the winning name.
“My choice of Ember as the FireSmart fox came from the fact that it only takes an ember to start a fire,” she states in a press release. “An ember can turn from a smouldering ground fire to a forest fire in moments.”
She's a FireSmart representative in her community.
Ember will be the new messenger with unique characteristics including alertness, adaptability, intelligence, and community knowledge. The fox’s job is to teach people how to use FireSmart principles in their homes, communities, and everywhere else.
With wildfire season approaching, Ember will provide messages and activities throughout the province by encouraging people to protect their property and neighbourhoods by doing things like clearing fire fuel.
“A variety of factors have contributed to the need for a new FireSmart messenger to support modern ideas around the role of fire in Canada,” states FireSmart.
“In an effort to spread awareness about our brand and programs, we’ve worked with FireSmart Canada to develop a fox mascot to help further engage and connect with the public,” says Kelsey Winter, FireSmart BC program lead and chair of the BC FireSmart Committee, in a press release.
