Smokey Bear celebrates 74th birthday

Smokey Bear is celebrating his 74th birthday today, August 9.

Smokey Bear campaign originated during WWII to prevent lumber needed for the war effort from burning. Then in 1950 a bear cub was rescued by wildland firefighters from the Capitan Gap Fire on the Lincoln National Forest. The badly burned bear cub became the living icon of Smokey Bear.

Smokey Bear’s image is recognizable all over the world spreading the fire prevention message for 74 years.

A majority of wildfires are human caused, keeping Smokey Bear’s message relevant. In 2016, 60,926 human-caused wildfires burned over 3.7 million acres.

In eastern Idaho, fifty-percent of wildfires are human caused.

To quote Smokey, “Only you can prevent wildfires!”