FSEEE's Mark Blaine and I met at “The Blue Window,” a lovely little New Mexico bistro, before Reddy Squirrel's grand coming–out party. We discussed her messages, her personality, her history and then headed over to get dressed and ready to go. I was a bit nervous. Not about being dressed as a relatively giant red squirrel with floppy black feet and no peripheral vision, but about setting a tone for the new character, a character already embroiled in controversy.

I cemented Reddy’s main firewise and supporting messages in my head as I climbed clumsily aboard the shiny fire truck, no scampering unfortunately. I waved at passing cars (and held onto my head as it reached skyward) from the top of the engine until we reached the municipal building. A happy crowd of mostly kids with a few chaperones and local dignitaries met us. Getting down from the fire truck was an interesting challenge with very limited vision and huge shoes, but I breathed a safe sigh of relief upon making it down without any Charlie Chaplinesque pratfalls.

We planted a fire-safe tree and the kids were awarded prizes for a coloring contest held by the Los Alamos County Defensible Space Project. I was prompted to tell those gathered how to make their homes safer from wildland fires. I also asked the kids what they thought while Mark gave Reddy Squirrel t-shirts to those kids willing to talk into the microphone. Needless to say, he ran out of t-shirts fast. By that time I was becoming Sweaty Squirrel, so we headed back for decompression and laughs.

I wanted to make the point I had squirreling around in my head all day about how Reddy Squirrel is not in competition with Smokey Bear, about how her practical advice is meant for homeowners and families living in what we call the Wildland-Urban Interface while Smokey talks to every person everywhere about human fire prevention. I never got that point out somehow. I sure hope the next Reddy Squirrel does, however, because FSEEE needs the Forest Service as a partner, not an adversary, in all of our effort at getting the defensible space idea out.

Oh, and if you are asked to be Reddy Squirrel at her next appearance - DO IT! Who wouldn't want to take on the personality of a plucky squirrel, tell people about how to be safer and happier, and make many folks' day.