Wildfire in the Parks

The National Park Service's Fire and Aviation Management Program sponsors an annual photo contest that has been drawing a growing number of entries from park staff.

The 2007 contest drew 127 entries, with the grand prize (and first place in the wildland-urban interface category) awarded to Mike Johnson from the Midwest Region Office for his photo of smoke from a fire at Wilson's Creek Battlefield sweeping across a country road. This photo, which received second-place honors in the "wildland-urban interface" category, comes from Lassen Volcanic National Park and was taken by Scott Isaacson. If you didn't look for the plume of smoke you might think it's just another beautiful day in the park.

You can see Ranger Johnson's photo, and other winners from the competition, at this site.