When did the symbol of Smokey Bear begin to be used for forest fire prevention?
The symbol of Smokey Bear originated during World War II (1939-45). The U.S. Forest Service, concerned about maintaining a steady lumber supply for the war effort, sought to educate the public about the dangers of forest fires. With the support of the War Advertising Council, they began their campaign. On August 9, 1944, Albert Staehle, a noted illustrator of animals, created Smokey Bear. In 1947, a Los Angeles advertising agency coined the slogan “Only you can prevent forest fires.” The campaign gained a living mascot in 1950 when a firefighting crew rescued a male bear cub from a forest fire in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico. The animal, dubbed “Smokey Bear,” was sent to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., where he remained a living symbol of forest fire protection until his death in 1976. His remains are…
