Smokey Bear Celebrates 80 Years of Fire Safety Advocacy

The iconic mascot, created during WWII, continues to educate the public on preventing wildfires.

Smokey Bear was introduced in 1944 to replace Bambi as the symbol of fire prevention.
The campaign's message evolved from preventing forest fires to preventing all types of wildfires.
A real bear cub rescued from a wildfire in 1950 became the living symbol of Smokey Bear.
Smokey Bear's wildfire prevention campaign is the longest-running public service campaign in U.S. history.
The mascot remains a cultural icon, recognized by 96% of American adults.