Fire Prevention in the South

History of Smokey Bear

Headshot of Smokey Bear Smokey Bear is the national symbol for Wildfire Prevention. The vision for a national fire prevention program was conceived in the Spring of 1942 during World War II. Several shells were shot from an enemy submarine into an oil refinery near the Los Padres National Forest.  With the importance of wood to the war effort, the threat to protecting the forests from unintentional wildfire as well as deliberate wildfire became real. The Wartime Advertising Council and the Forest Service joined forces to form the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP) Program. 

Watch a Video Online about Smokey's Story and his five fire prevention messages (English and Spanish)

While looking for an appropriate symbol, the program borrowed Bambi from Walt Disney. The bear image, known as Smokey, was launched on August 9, 1944. Smokey was named after “Smokey” Joe Martin the assistant Chief of the New York City Fire Department. Albert Staehle was asked to paint the first picture of Smokey Bear.  Later artists included Rudy Wendelin and Harry Rossoll (Southern Region Forest Service employee). Jackson Weaver became the voice of Smokey Bear, followed by Gene Moss. Later during 1950, when a real bear cub was found singed by a forest fire in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico and nursed back to health by a rancher, forest rangers, game wardens, Veterinarian Edwin Smith and Judy Bell, state game warden Ray Bell’s daughter, Smokey made his debut at the Washington DC Zoo. He lived in the Zoo until his death in 1976. With his popularity Smokey was issued his own private zip code and books such as Smokey Bear 20252: A Biography by William C. Lawter, Jr. and The Guardian of the Forest: A History of the Smokey Bear Program by Ellen Earnhardt Morrison have been written about Smokey's life and related popular culture.

Learn more about Smokey's history

August 9, 2009 marked the 65th Birthday of Smokey Bear. For 65 years Smokey’s simple message of “Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires” has achieved world recognition. The slogan was modified in 2002 to be “Only YOU Can Prevent Wildfires” recognizing that grass and brush fires are equally as threatening and also to emphasize that prescribed fires are acceptable and beneficial. Smokey is recognized as the most successful, longest running public service campaign in the nation. Despite efforts of some to change his message or twist his words, Smokey has remained a consistent, staunch advocate for prevention of carelessly caused wildfires.

Smokey Bear in the Social Media World

"Get Your Smokey On" by visiting these social media sites:

Promotional Partnerships

Partnership with the Advertising Council

[insert Jeff Foxworthy] Ruth A. Wooden, Past-President of the Advertising Council, noted at the time of Smokey's 50th birthday in 1994, that Smokey Bear has a degree of public recognition equal to that of Santa Claus and Mickey Mouse. Foot, Cone and Belding (FCB), the volunteer advertising agency responsible for developing the creative work for the campaign, is now in its third generation of producers. Many young men and women began their successful careers working with the Smokey campaign. Today there is great pride at FCB for their work with Smokey. The campaign is the longest running, most successful public service campaign in the nation.

 

Partnership with National Association of State Foresters (NASF)

The NASF works with the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council to support the message of Smokey Bear.  The NASF continues to offer educational materials and products to government agencies, fire departments and teachers.  These products may be ordered from:   
                    
NASF Forest Fire Prevention and Conservation Project
106 E. Green St.
Suite A
Franklinton, NC  27525

Phone 919 494-1300

Hours are M_F 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM EST

For more information visit the National Association of State Foresters.

Product Licensing

Legislation Authorizing Smokey Bear

The Smokey Bear Act of May 23, 1952 authorized the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP) Program. The Forest Service manages the Smokey Bear program in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the Advertising Council. The symbol is protected to reinforce the message of the need to prevent wildfires. Authorization to use the Smokey symbol is required from the State Fire Chief or the regional fire prevention coordinator.

Licensing Agreements are issued to vendors to provide Smokey products to communicate the fire prevention message, maintain high standards of quality, and generate funds to further wildland fire prevention programs. Anyone who is interested in having a new Smokey product created and sold, needs to contact a licensing agent or visit www.themetisgroup.com/marketing/licensing/smokey-bear to learn the laws and guidelines, obtain application forms, and view a list of current products.

How to Buy Smokey Products

Products can be purchased from anyone through the licensees listed at www.smokeybeargear.com. These products are more "gift-oriented" and range from t-shirts to mugs to watches.

The National Association of State Foresters (NASF) works with the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council to support the message of Smokey Bear. The NASF continues to offer educational materials and products to government agencies, fire departments and teachers. These products may be ordered from: National Assocations of State Foresters.

Educators, non-profits, and natural resources state and federal agencies can purchase educational and promotional smokey items by visiting www.symbols.gov. Not only can you purchase Smokey Bear items but also Woodsy Owl, fire and wildland interface educational materials. However, you do not have to have a code to purchase items anymore. As long as the items are used for education and not sold, anyone now can go to www.symbols.gov and purchase Smokey Bear items. Please remember, the promotional items in this catalog (i.e. cache) must be used in fire prevention education activities and cannot be resold. 

If your program falls within the national guidelines promoting fire prevention, you can invite Smokey Bear to your classroom or special event by contacting the state or federal forest coordinator.