Betty White, advocate of wildfire prevention, dead at 99

She appeared in fire prevention public service announcements

Betty White and Smokey Bear
Betty White and Smokey Bear in One Less Spark, 2013.

Today the world lost one of its most beloved actresses, Betty White, who passed away weeks before her 100th birthday.

She worked in radio, television, and films for nine decades and may be best known for her work on the Mary Tyler Moore Show, Golden Girls, and Hot in Cleveland. She is also the only guest host of Saturday Night Live to receive a standing ovation at the end of the show.

Betty White honorary Forest Ranger
Betty White and Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell, November 9, 2010

But firefighters may remember her as an advocate for wildfire prevention and for the public service announcements she filmed. In 2010 she was appointed to the position of Honorary Forest Ranger. She said in interviews that she wanted to be a forest ranger as a little girl, but that women were not allowed to do that then. She was born in 1922.

The video below is part of a playlist of three very short pieces featuring Ms. White’s fire prevention activities.

YouTube won’t let the video below be added to the playlist because “it is intended for kids.” The 90-second video produced by the US Forest Service shows her being appointed to her position of Honorary Forest Ranger.

May she rest in peace.

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Author: Bill Gabbert

After working full time in wildland fire for 33 years, he continues to learn, and strives to be a Student of Fire.

One thought on “Betty White, advocate of wildfire prevention, dead at 99”

  1. The PBS News Hour tonite mentioned her passing, and said that being made an Honorary Forest Ranger by the USFS was “a fulfillment of her childhood dreams.”

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