The United States Forest Service Officially Authorized The Creation Of Smokey Bear As The Symbol Of Wildfire Prevention. This Authorization Came As Part Of A Broader Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Program. The U.S. Forest Service, The National Association Of State Foresters, And The Wartime Advertising Council, Later Known As The Ad Council, Agreed On That Date To Adopt A Bear Symbol To Represent Fire Safety Messages. The Date Has Since Been Celebrated As Smokey Bear’s “Birthday.”
The Decision To Use A Bear Followed A Prior Campaign That Featured Disney’s Bambi. That Campaign Had Achieved Success In Raising Awareness About Forest Fires. Because Disney’s Use Was Temporary, The Forest Service And Its Partners Sought A Permanent Mascot That Belonged Exclusively To Their Program. The Chosen Mascot Was A Bear, Designed To Be Friendly Yet Responsible.
An Artist Named Albert Staehle Painted The First Smokey Bear Poster. This Initial Image Featured Smokey Pouring Water From A Bucket Onto A Campfire While Wearing Jeans And A Campaign Hat. The Poster Included The Slogan “Smokey Says– Care Will Prevent 9 Out Of 10 Forest Fires.” That Image Debuted Publicly On October 10, 1944.
Harry Rossoll Provided The Initial Sketch Of The Character, While Albert Staehle Rendered The Poster Art. Later, Rudy Wendelin Became The Full-Time Artist For Smokey Bear. Wendelin Managed The Campaign Art And Character Presentation Until His Retirement In 1973.
Smokey Bear’s Campaign Played A Key Role In American Public Service History. It Was Introduced During World War II, A Time When The Country Was Particularly Vulnerable. Many Skilled Firefighters Served In The Military. At The Same Time, There Was Fear That Enemy Action Could Trigger Forest Fires And Undermine Critical Timber Resources. Timber Was Essential For War Efforts. Smokey Became A Symbol Of Shared Responsibility And National Defense Against Wildfires.
Three Years After His Debut, The Campaign’s Slogan Changed. In 1947, The More Familiar Phrase “Remember… Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires” Appeared For The First Time. In 2001, The Slogan Was Updated To “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires” To Reflect The Inclusion Of Non-Forest Fires In The Campaign’s Scope.
The Fruits Of That August 9 Decision Extend Beyond Posters. Smokey Bear Remains The Longest-Running Public Service Campaign In United States History. The Character’s Name And Image Were Later Protected By Federal Law Through The Smokey Bear Act Of 1952, Which Removed The Image From The Public Domain And Directed Royalties To Fund Future Wildfire Prevention Education.
The Historical Importance Of August 9, 1944 Lies In Its Formalization Of A High-Impact National Campaign. It Marked The Birth Of A Mascot That Would Shape Public Awareness And Behavior Over Decades. Smokey Bear Became A Trustworthy Figure That Connected Government, Communities, And Individuals In The Shared Goal Of Protecting Forests From Human-Caused Fires.
References / More Knowledge:
Forest History Society. “Smokey Bear History.” Forest History Society.
SmokeyBear.com. “About The Campaign.” U.S. Forest Service.
Time. “The Surprising History Of Smokey Bear.” Time Magazine.
Today In Conservation. “August 9: Smokey Bear Born, 1944.”
United States Congress. Smokey Bear Act Of 1952.
United States Forest Service. “Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Program History.”
Wendelin, Rudy. “Smokey Bear Campaign Artwork.” U.S. Forest Service Archives.
Wikipedia. “Harry Rossoll.”
Wikipedia. “Smokey Bear.”
Wikipedia. “Rudy Wendelin.”