Smokey the Bear will be visiting for the first time in the history of Sam Dale Lake this Saturday.
Smokey will be located on the west side of the dam from noon until 2 p.m. Attendees should look for the fire trucks. Don’t forget to bring your cameras, as there will be handouts for the kids.
Smokey Bear was created on August 9, 1944, when the USDA Forest Service and the Ad Council decided to use a fictional bear as their symbol for forest fire prevention. The first poster featuring Smokey, painted by artist Albert Staehle, depicted him pouring water on a campfire with the message, “Care will prevent 9 out of 10 fires.” Smokey quickly gained popularity and became a prominent figure in forest fire prevention campaigns. In 1947, his slogan evolved into the well-known, “Only YOU Can Prevent Forest Fires!” which was later updated to, “Only YOU Can Prevent Wildfires!”
For 80 years, Smokey Bear has served as an iconic figure in American advertising and public service campaigns. The Wildfire Prevention Campaign by the U.S. Forest Service remains the longest-running public service announcement campaign in U.S. history.
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