SMOKEY BEAR TURNS 50; CELEBRATION PLANNED

For the past half century, Smokey Bear has watched over the nation's forests and educated Americans on the importance of forest-fire prevention. Generations of Americans have grown up with Smokey, helping protect our forests from wildfires. Today, the nation joins in celebrating the birthday of the fire-fighting bear.

"Smokey has taught several generations to be careful with fires and to respect wildlife," said Bruce Palmer, forestry information specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation.

While the national celebration will take place in Washington, D.C., today, Southeast Missouri must wait a couple of weeks to wish Smokey a happy birthday.

Cape Girardeau will join the celebration at 9 a.m. Aug. 26, when the Smokey Bear giant hot-air balloon comes to North Cape Girardeau County Park. In addition, Smokey himself will be on hand to help everybody eat his birthday cake.

"This is quite a milestone for such a campaign," Palmer said. "Everybody knows Smokey. He has really reached out to the kids, and he's made a significant difference to fire prevention all over the country."

Smokey's crusade began more than 50 years ago at the height of World War II. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Forest Service needed help to protect forests, and on Aug. 9, 1944, the nation's No. 1 fire-prevention symbol was created. A national advertising campaign was developed featuring Smokey.

"Smokey represents one of the most successful public-service advertising campaigns in history," said Palmer.

In late spring 1950, an orphaned bear cub was discovered clinging to a scorched tree in the midst of a devastating forest fire in Lincoln National Forest. It had burns on its paws and hind legs and was in shock. Firefighters rescued the cub and nursed it back to health.

Word quickly spread of its rescue and people started calling the bear "Smokey." That living symbol of forest-fire prevention helped boost the popularity of the U.S. Forest Service's campaign.

Since Smokey's introduction, the incidence of forest fires from accidental causes has been cut in half in the United States, but there is still a long way to go. In fact, between 1991 and 1993, 13,721 fires destroyed 191,593 acres of Missouri forest land. More than 95 percent of all wildfires in Missouri are caused by carelessness, and therefore are preventable.

Some of Smokey's golden rules for forest-fire prevention:

-- Break matches. Doing so stunts the possibility of a partially extinguished match continuing to burn.

-- Crush cigarettes or cigars. Anything left smoking, even minutely so, is a serious hazard that could spark a much larger problem.

-- Drown your campfires. Make sure your campfires are completely extinguished by heavily dousing them with water.

-- Be careful with all fires. If you come across a fire that has not been controlled, or if you spot an arsonist, call for help immediately.

Smokey's message continues to be spread through school and community programs and on television, radio and newspaper public-service announcements.