Vintage Maine Forest Service Fire Prevention Poster – "Prevent Forest Fires: Break It - Crush It" (Augusta, Maine)

An authentic mid-century state conservation poster issued by the Maine Forest Service out of Augusta, Maine. Printed on heavy yellow stock with bold black graphics and typography, this vintage sign emphasizes fire safety instructions tailored to woodsmen, campers, and outdoor enthusiasts:

PREVENT FOREST FIRES

Break It — Crush It

Always Be Careful With Fire

The central artwork features simple, high-contrast instructional diagrams demonstrating how to safely break a wooden matchstick before discarding it and crush out a glowing cigarette butt.

The bottom includes official regional state seals and credentials:

• Left Seal: Official Maine Forest Service shield logo.

• Right Seal: "Keep Maine Green — Prevent Forest Fires, Grow More Trees" campaign emblem.

• Text Center: Forest Commissioner — Augusta, Maine.

Presented in a sleek black wooden frame, this piece makes an exceptional addition to a Maine camp, rustic lodge, forestry history collection, or vintage Americana display.

Condition & Surface Details:

• Paper & Graphics: Excellent contrast with vibrant yellow background color and deep black ink.

• Age Wear: Exhibits horizontal storage folds/creases across the middle (typical for state-issued poster mailings), light age-toning, and minor handling wear along the paper margins.

• Framing: Cleanly housed behind glass in a modern black frame; ready to display.

Approximate Measurements (Framed):

• Height: ~18" – 20"

• Width: ~14" – 16"

Age & Historical Context:

• Era: Circa 1940s – 1950s.

• History: During the mid-20th century—particularly following the catastrophic Maine fires of 1947—the Maine Forest Commissioner and the "Keep Maine Green" program aggressively distributed educational paper posters to timber lands, sporting camps, general stores, and forest fire warden stations across the state to mandate basic fire safety habits.