As climate change worsens around the world, so do the outbreak of wildfires. Just in the last few years, such countries as Canada, Greece, and Australia have experienced devastating fires, as has such U. S. states as Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, Texas, and of course California, These conflagrations continue exploding in size, power, and devastation, destroying homes, businesses, and or course, lives.

In 1944, the United States Forestry Service desired an eyecatching mascot to inspire audiences to honor the beauty and glory of nature by preventing and putting out forest fires. Though they had employed lavishly illustrated posters for several years in their worthy cause, including a Disney-inspired poster featuring Thumper the rabbit, Flower the skunk, and an adult deer, their poster released on August 9, 1944 featuring a friendly, lovable bear that came to be known as Smokey Bear is one of the world’s most famous advertising icons and celebrities, designed by commercial artist Albert Staehle.

Born 1899 in Munich, Germany, Staehle turned to graphic design and illustration at a young age after arriving in America, inspired by his grandfather and father, who illustrated for Currier and Ives. Looking to better his technique, he attended the Art Students League in New York. Staehle’s career took off after winning a 1937 poster competition with his design showing a mother cow feeding her little calf a bottle of Borden’s milk. This gave birth to his career as an expert animal illustrator, though he also won renown as one of the top poster illustrators for New York’s 1939 World’s Fair.

Staehle’s eyecatching animals featured expressive faces with large, animated eyes, drawing viewers’ attention. He first really gained renown for his illustrations of his Cocker Spaniel Butch, who appeared on 23 Saturday Evening Post covers, but also drew cats, owls, geese, and of course bears, appearing in magazine ads, journal covers, and billboards. After the United States Forest Service authorized the creation of Smokey Bear on August 9, 1944, they hired Staehle to design a poster for their fire prevention campaign, which was completed and delivered by the artist on October 10. His design of a friendly, jaunty bear wearing a Ranger’’s jacket, hat, and jeans pouring water on an open campfire became an instant hit, thanks to its folk art look. Smokey would become one of the most famous advertising icons and mascots of all time, cementing Staehle’s work in the zeitgeist.

People young and old fell in love with Smokey. Originally produced to teach conservation and prevention to adults, Smokey’s appealing nature became a great educational tool for kids. By 1946, the Forest Service produced enough posters to paper fishing and hunting camps, rural stores, and 135,000 schools throughout the United States, per the Washington Daily News in 1946.

Smokey’s appeal exploded with kids in 1950 after the Forest Service rescued a tiny, bedraggled cub from a New Mexico forest fire and presented him the National Zoo in Washington, D. C three months later as the mascot and symbol for a national conservation and wildfire prevention publicity program. A playful little bear with attitude, the cub suffered three burned feet and third-degree burns but survived and thrived after his accident through nursing from the New Mexico State game and fish officials. The cute babe would appear in advertising campaigns, on papers, and later in live appearances wearing a fashionable miniature ranger outfit and hat, drawing huge crowds of children. He eventually received so many letters and cards that he earned his own zip code.

To reach even more kids as an influence on conserving and preserving the forest, the little bear began appearing in advertising on radio and TV as well as films, especially in commercials. In 1952 the Delaware Agricultural Extension featured him in a five minute short entitled “Smokey the Bear” co-starring popular county western singer Eddy Arnold, showing Smokey with a group of boys in the forest. On behalf of the government the Advertising Council produced annual advertising campaigns with posters, and later developed a “Junior Ranger” program in which children pledged to “save and faithfully defined from waste the natural resources of my country.”

Turning Smokey into a commercial product for eager little children, the Forest Service licensed cuddly teddy bears, toys, and mechanical devises with all royalties going to fire prevention work. A 1954 newspaper story reported that about 240,000 Smokey teddy bears sold for Christmas 1953. A song about the dashing bear appeared on sheet music with the lytic “Smokey the Bear” as well as on five different phonograph records, though his real name is Smokey Bear. His life story would soon also appear in print and on stamps. Smokey also appeared in the Boy Scouts fire prevention program.

Turning to the entertainment industry to help expand fire prevention and conservation efforts, Smokey the Bear became a media star. He appeared in illustrated promotional campaigns with Timmy and Lassie from the wildly popular “Lassie” TV series as well as being employed by MGM for their film “Ring of Fire” in 1961 to tell movie audiences how to prevent forest fires.

Smokey still remains popular today as the mascot for the Forestry Service, though perhaps more remembered by adults than kids thanks to a more adult appearance in countless commercials. For his 80th birthday this year, Smokey has appeared in the Tournament of Roses Parade and at state fairs, and will participate in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade as well as the lighting of the National Christmas tree. Possibly more desperately needed than ever to inform and educate people about protecting nature and preventing disastrous wildfires, Smokey remains a potent symbol of knowledge and influence.