Today, People Operating Technology, publishers of premier iPhone and iPod Touch games announced the launch of Wildfire Fighter, the latest addition to their edutainment lineup.

Now iPhone users can pilot the controls of the Bell 205 Helitanker, fully equipped to take on even the most blazing fires across the country. Swiftly navigate your choppers around the map to extinguish kindle before it engulfs the terrain, while avoiding harsh winds and airborne collisions.

"We're very proud to have developed a game that is not only a lot of fun but also generates awareness to a persistent environmental issue," said Jason Petralia, CEO of People Operating Technology. "We want to remind users that wildfires are a real problem, and by linking to the Smokey Bear mobile site, we are hoping to encourage safety and responsibility outdoors as well."

In 2008, human-caused fires accounted for over 70,000 wildfires across the United States, burning nearly 3,500,000 acres in their wake, according to data from a report published by the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. The severity of those figures are being mirrored in 2009, which has already seen more than 5,662,900 acres burned by wildland fires. By raising awareness of the wildfire issue, People Operating Technology aims to help extinguish those numbers and support efforts towards fire safety. For more information on current and historical wildfire information and statistics, visit www.nifc.gov.

Wildfire Fighter is the only iPhone game that combines entertainment with a social message about fire prevention. The game lends a donated media placement of Smokey Bear's message that "Only You Can Prevent Wildfires," the first ever on the iPhone platform, and links through to Smokey's mobile website, www.smokeybearmobile.com