Whether in print, on television, or as a sound bite, the bear pointed at and/or spoke sternly to the public, stating the now famous slogan while emphasizing the responsibility of each individual, “Only YOU can prevent forest fires.”Īct of Congress establishing the "Smokey Bear" character or name, May 23, 1952. ![]() They launched an advertising campaign to raise awareness and promote responsibility, using a bear as the logo. ![]() Forest Service officials searched for ways to make citizens who visited our National Forests more conscious of the serious damage that could be caused by haphazardly tossing away a match or not ensuring a campfire was completely extinguished. Furthermore, and perhaps even more importantly, fires started by careless citizens within the U.S. In the aftermath of the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941) there was growing concerns among Americans that a similar assault on the American west coast could spark devastating wildfires, consuming vital natural and human resources at a time when there was a certain absence of the latter, as many citizens were contributing to the war effort abroad. Smokey Bear, the character, was created by the Forest Service in August 1944 as the lead symbol in its Wildfire Prevention Campaign. Forest Service maintains a very informative website regarding Smokey’s history and a wealth of wildfire statistics may be found on the National Interagency Fire Center website. ![]() 2019 marks the 75th anniversary of Smokey Bear, and, considering the rise in wildfires during the past decade, Smokey and his message of wildfire prevention and wildlife preservation is needed now more than ever.
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