Smokey Bear’s 80th Birthday!

For almost 80 years, Smokey Bear has been an iconic figure in the United States, serving as a symbol of fire prevention and safety. From his first poster created in 1944 to today’s augmented reality (AR) games, this blue-jeaned, eco-conscious character reminds every one of their responsibility to protect wild things and places.   

Smokey’s story begins the spring after Pearl Harbor when Japanese submarines surfaced and fired missiles at the coast of Santa Barbara, California – near the Los Padres National Forest. People began to fear the widespread blaze that could engulf the Pacific coast if the forests were to catch fire. With most of the experienced firefighters, rangers, and other abled-bodied men fighting overseas, the responsibility of taking care of the forests fell on the public.   

A partnership between the Forest Service, the War Advertising Council, and the Association of State Foresters formed and led to the development of the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention program. Together they created a campaign to rally Americans around the cause using slogans like Forest Fires Aid the Enemy and Our Carelessness, Their Secret Weapon. 

In 1944, a bear mascot was authorized for use by the Forest Service. Artist, Albert Staehle, created the first poster featuring Smokey Bear: a brown bear wearing a ranger’s hat and cuffed blue jeans pourings a bucket of water over a fire with text reading “Smokey says: Care will prevent 9 out of 10 woods fires!” His popularity soared and Congress removed him from the public domain with all royalties and fees going toward educating the public about wildfire prevention.   

In 1950, Smokey Bear went from a cartoon on a poster to a living symbol for the importance of wildfire prevention. That spring, fires raged through the forests of the Capitan Mountains in New Mexico. As firefighters tried to keep the flames from spreading, a report of a lone bear cub wandering around the perimeter of the fire came through. He was later found in a charred tree and rescued by the crew. 

Soon, the little bear’s story became national news, and concerned citizens from around the country began asking about his recovery. The cub was presented to the Forest Service and dedicated to conservation and wildfire prevention programs. He would live out the rest of his life as the “real” Smokey Bear at the National Zoo in Washington D.C. 

 In 2001, Smokey’s catchphrase was updated from “Remember…Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires” to “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” to align with prescribed burning practices and to encompass other environments like grasslands and urban areas. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, in 2023 55,571 wildfires burned over 2.6 million acres. Humans were responsible for 50,657 of those fires leaving 1.5 million acres burned – that’s more than the total acreage of Lincoln National Forest where Smokey was rescued as a cub.   

Even after almost a century, Smokey is still on a mission to educate the public about the importance of fire safety and wildfire prevention. By following Smokey Bear’s helpful tips, you can help prevent wildfires! 

Smokey Bear’s Rules for Fire Prevention: 

1. Only you can prevent wildfires 

1. Always be careful with fire 

1. Never play with matches or lighters 

1. Always watch your campfire 

1. Make sure your campfire is completely out before leaving it 

 

You can learn more about fire prevention and safety by visiting  https://smokeybear.com/en/prevention-how-tos 

In honor of his 80th birthday on August 9, 2024, Mission Conservation has partnered with the Forest Service to create a special Smokey Bear mission. Kids and kids at heart can play AR games and learn the key practices of fire safety and wildfire prevention. Play by downloading Agents of Discovery from your app store today!