Another enemy to conquer: forest fires, nine out of ten can be prevented (folder)
Small two-panel folder: the left panel shows a squirrel and young in a tree hollow against red flame shapes under 'Another enemy to conquer: Forest Fires, nine out of ten can be prevented'; the right panel lists fire-prevention rules for farmers, smokers, industries and campers. Wartime 'enemy' language is applied to fire and frightened animals carry the fear-appeal; the technique is lighter on the text panel.
Propaganda techniques used in this poster
- Date
- 1941
- Period
- Second World War
- Made by
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, with State Forest Service
- Region
- North America
- Country
- United States
- Medium
- Poster
- Issuer type
- State
- Regime
- Roosevelt Administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Audience
- Domestic public
- Purpose
- Warn or inform
- Themes
- Home front, Security and surveillance
- Event
- World War II
- Regime
- Roosevelt administration
- Leader
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 44, World War II Posters, retrieved October 4, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain (U.S. government work)
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. National Archives and Records Administration, RG 44, 44-PA-407 (NAID 513858).
Text on the object
ANOTHER ENEMY TO CONQUER FOREST FIRES NINE OUT OF TEN CAN BE PREVENTED U. S. DEPT. AGRICULTURE—FOREST SERVICE STATE FOREST SERVICE GONE: 40% OF AMERICA'S FORESTS From 1909 to 1938, while America's saw timber was being reduced almost 40%, fires killed billions of little trees—tomorrow's timber—and enough big ones to build 6½ million five-room homes! Vital watersheds were also crippled, millions of man-days of labor wasted, nature's beauty scarred. To help prevent this shameful waste— FARMERS, RANCHERS: Ask fire wardens if the law requires a permit before clearing land with fire or burning grass, brush, fence rows, ferns, sedge, debris. Then scrape a trail or plow around; don't burn in hot or windy weather; do kill every spark. SMOKERS: Crush out cigarettes, cigars, pipe ashes; break matches in two. After holding the burned end between your fingers—use the ash tray. Always observe rules in areas closed to smoking. FOREST INDUSTRIES: Build safe fire lines; use efficient spark arresters; inspect often, keep patrols alert; don't burn in dangerous weather. CAMPERS AND PICNICKERS: Get a permit—if the law requires—before building any fires. Before leaving always drown your fire, stir coals, drown again. EVERYBODY: Remember that 9 out of 10 forest, woods, and range fires can be prevented; that you can do your part by reading . . . by memorizing . . . by always remembering and observing the above in all forest, woodland, and range areas. HELP CONQUER AMERICA'S ENEMY—FOREST FIRES [handwritten:] Forest Fires [handwritten:] 44-PA-407
