Who is Smokey Bear?

Nearly nine out of every 10 wildfires in the United States are human-caused.

Through the Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention (CFFP) Committee, NASF works with the USDA Forest Service and the Ad Council to manage and promote Smokey Bear and his message of wildfire prevention. Click here to get to know the CFFP.

The CFFP Committee was authorized under the Smokey Bear Act of May 23, 1952. The resulting Smokey Bear campaign is the longest running public service announcement campaign in United States history. To learn more about Smokey Bear, visit SmokeyBear.com. To schedule a Smokey Bear appearance and/or wildfire prevention presentation, please contact your state forestry agency.

For questions about the Smokey Bear campaign and/or CFFP, please contact:

Sheridan Davis
Communications Director
National Association of State Foresters
sdavis @stateforesters.org

Mandy Scott
National Wildfire Prevention Program Manager
USDA Forest Service
Amanda.scott@usda.gov

Trace Danicich
Group Campaign Director
Ad Council
tdanicich@adcouncil.org

In the world of wildfire prevention, there is no greater honor than to receive a Smokey Bear Award. These special awards are reserved for people or organizations that provide outstanding service with significant and sustained program impact in the wildfire prevention arena.

The earliest version of the Smokey Bear Awards began in the mid-1950s. Then and today, the awards program is led by the three partners behind the Smokey Bear wildfire prevention campaign—the National Association of State Foresters, the Ad Council, and the USDA Forest Service. There are three award levels:

The Gold Smokey Bear Award recognizes exceptional wildfire prevention work done on a national scale. President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave out the first Gold Smokey Bear Awards in 1958 to the Ad Council, the American Forestry Association, and the American Forest Products Institute. The Silver Smokey Bear Award recognizes region-wide service and the Bronze Smokey Bear Award honors statewide wildfire prevention efforts. Click here to see all previous Smokey Bear Award recipients.

All nominations for the 2025 Smokey Bear Awards must adhere to this criteria and be submitted to this online form by December 31, 2024.

Have questions about crafting a nomination package? Check out this FAQ and the 2025 Smokey Bear Awards Guidelines and Criteria. We also have a sample nomination to guide you through the process and illustrate how to best answer each question.

Wondering what prevention project or work qualifies for a Smokey Bear Award? All kinds of wildfire prevention service can qualify for an award. Take Jon Motsinger’s work for example: He was the recipient of a 2016 Bronze Smokey Bear Award for merging two of his passions – wildfire prevention and geocaching – into a highly successful, statewide outreach program for Smokey Bear’s 70th birthday. Watch this short clip provided by the Texas A&M Forest Service to learn more:

Smokey Bear or his likeness cannot be used to endorse a commercial product, service, political position, or any message other than his wildfire prevention message. Any commercial use (i.e. products sold, money raised, etc.) that is not licensed through the USDA Forest Service is an illegal use.

Smokey’s image can be licensed for products that are in keeping with his wildfire prevention campaign. Persons interested in submitting a License Proposal should contact the USDA Forest Service at sm.fs.sblicense@usda.gov. Licensing may be for a term of years or for a one-time use, depending on the product and/or use.

For more information about licensing, visit the USDA Forest Service’s Smokey Bear Licensing webpage.

For more information about the use of Smokey Bear’s image, click here to read the official Smokey Bear Use Guidelines.

Prevent Wildfires with Smokey Bear

Get your smokey on: SPark a change, not a wildfire.

Since 1944, the Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention Campaign has helped millions of Americans realize their role in preventing wildfires. Today, Smokey’s image is recognized by 8 out of 10 Americans, but his work to prevent wildfires is far from over. Smokey needs your help in preventing devastating, unplanned, and unwanted fires. How will you care for the world around you by sparking change, not wildfires? Do your part by trying these tips:

Maintain your equipment. Today most equipment requires the use of a spark arrestor. A spark arrestor is a mechanical device that traps or destroys hot exhaust particles that have been released from an internal combustion engine. While spark arrestors are not 100% effective, they can greatly reduce the risk of starting a wildfire. Learn more about proper equipment maintenance.

Extinguish your campfire. If a campfire is not properly extinguished, smoldering coals and embers can reignite a fire when you aren’t around. Learn the proper steps for campfire safety.

Learn before you burn. When burning debris, it is critical to comply with local regulations. Weather fluctuations, such as sudden gusts of wind, could make debris burning spark a wildfire. State forestry agencies, local fire departments and other entities can help you determine if the weather is safe enough to burn. Learn about debris burning.

Follow Smokey Bear on social media. Smokey Bear shares wildfire prevention tips and news on his Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Get your Smokey on by using the hashtag #OnlyYou when you share your wildfire prevention story!

Help spread Smokey’s word in your classroom or throughout your community. Purchase Smokey Bear educational materials, giveaway items, gifts, and more in NASF’s Store. Free resources for teachers are also available on SmokeyBear.com and below!

Who is Smokey Bear?

Nearly nine out of every 10 wildfires in the United States are human-caused.

Prevent Wildfires with Smokey Bear

Get your smokey on: SPark a change, not a wildfire.

Forest Action Plans: GUIDELINES FOR FORESTS

Forest Action Plans:
GUIDELINES FOR FORESTS