Smokey Bear, the beloved symbol of the U.S. Forest Service, turns 80 years old on August 9, 2024. He's been warning about forest fires and wildfires in the great outdoors for eight decades.

Smokey Bear was born on Aug. 9, 1944, when the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council agreed that a fictional bear would be the symbol for a fire prevention campaign.

The Smokey Bear cartoon and public service ad first appeared in 1944 as part of a larger wildfire prevention program during World War II. Experienced firefighters and other able-bodied men and ...

80 years ago, Smokey Bear taught Americans about fire safety. Is he still relevant? The famous symbol of fire prevention turns 80. But fire ecologists say that his message is outdated.

A Smokey the Bear forest fire prevention sign stands in front of snow blanketing the Sierra Nevada mountains after recent storms increased the snowpack on February 23, 2024 near Bishop, California ...

KGUN Tucson, AZ. Smokey Bear: 80 years of fire prevention. Posted: August 11, 2024 | Last updated: July 10, 2025. Smokey Bear— an advertisement that was inspired by the true story of a black ...

Karl Kenyon, who was very active in the community, was able to bring Smokey along and before long, the annual program was ...