Smokey Bear

This familiar slogan was heard across Ontario and North America promoting fire prevention and safety every year as the forest fire season approached. Smokey Bear is the longest and most successful prevention campaign character ever created. While his message of the dangers associated with being careless with fire is best remembered by young children, it also applies to anyone who uses and enjoys our natural resources.

So, who is Smokey Bear?

Smokey was a real black bear found clinging to a tree following a forest fire in the spring of 1950 by a crew of American army soldiers (who were helping fight the fire). His hind legs and paws had been burned severely from the fire so they nicknamed the bear “Smokey”. After Smokey’s injuries were successfully treated he lived out the rest of his life at the National Zoo in Washington D.C.

Although Smokey was real, the image of a bear had become the symbol for forest fire prevention long before he was found. After trying a variety of fire prevention campaigns, including Walt Disney’s “Bambi”, a campaign poster depicting a bear putting water on a fire was released on August 9th 1944. Smokey became the symbol for forest fire prevention across the U.S.A. with messages such as “Only YOU can prevent forest fires” and “Think before you strike”, cautioning people against the ravages of forest fires. Visit the Smokey Bear link for the complete story.

Smokey says ...
"Think before you strike"

The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) and other Canadian provinces adopted Smokey Bear as their prevention symbol during the 1950’s. Smokey’s prevention message has been similar in Canada and the United States, and in the past few years has matured to reflect the role of fire on the landscape.

Forest fires have become better recognized as a naturally occurring event in many forest ecosystems. Many plant and tree species have adapted to frequent disturbance by fire. Smokey’s message cautioning against carelessness, has not previously acknowledged the benefits that fire can have in the proper places and at the right time. In 2001, his message was updated to reflect both the positive and the negative effects that fire can have. Smokey’s message is clearer when it says the fires we need to prevent are unplanned, uncontrolled fires that threaten human life and property. These are what we call wildfires.

High intensity fires as shown in this picture are stand replacing and can benefit fire adapted plant and tree species reproduction. However, they can also have negative effects on people, property and other human values.

With extreme fire seasons and drought-like conditions that many parts of North America have been experiencing in the past few years, Smokey’s message is becoming increasingly important. While we can not prevent naturally occurring, lightning caused forest fires, we must still reduce the number of damaging and costly fires caused by people who work, play and live in our forests.

Smokey turned 60 in 2004 and with age comes experience”… “Only YOU can prevent Wildfires”

• Are You FireSmart?
• Living with Fire