Smokey Bear A Smokey Bear fire danger sign, shown here at a U.S. national park, displaying a blue “moderate” indicator for the fire danger risk that day. The five fire danger warning levels are low (green), moderate (blue), high (yellow), very high (orange), and extreme (red). (more) Smokey Bear mascot Actions Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Smokey-Bear Share Share Share to social media Facebook X URL https://www.britannica.com/topic/Smokey-Bear Written by Don Vaughan Don Vaughan is a freelance writer based in Raleigh, North Carolina. Don Vaughan Fact-checked by The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica Last Updated: Sep 20, 2024 • Article History Table of Contents Smokey Bear, an official mascot of the USDA Forest Service, created in 1944 as part of a national campaign to educate campers and others on forest fire prevention and safety; it is the longest-running public service advertising campaign in U.S. history. A black bear cub that survived a New Mexico forest fire in 1950 became a living embodiment of the cultural icon and was a popular attraction at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Zoo in Washington, D.C., for more than two decades. Smokey’s story begins at the start of the United States’ involvement in World War II (1939–45). Just months after ...(100 of 952 words)

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