# Smokey Bear

> Smokey Bear is the longest-running public service advertising campaign in U.S. history. Led by the Ad Council in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and the National Association of State Foresters, the campaign has educated generations of Americans about their role in preventing unwanted, human-caused wildfires. Smokey Bear’s iconic message, “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires,” has been a cornerstone of wildfire prevention since his debut in 1944.

SmokeyBear.com serves as the official public education and awareness website for the Smokey Bear campaign. The site provides practical information, safety guidance, and educational resources to help people reduce wildfire risk when enjoying outdoor spaces, using fire responsibly, and caring for their communities and public lands.

## Focus Areas

### Wildfire Prevention

The Smokey Bear campaign focuses on preventing unwanted, human-caused wildfires by encouraging responsible behaviors such as properly maintaining campfires, avoiding sparks, and following local fire safety guidance. The campaign emphasizes that most wildfires are caused by people and can be prevented through everyday actions.

### Public Safety & Stewardship

Smokey Bear promotes a culture of shared responsibility for protecting forests, grasslands, and other wildlands. The campaign highlights how individual actions help safeguard communities, wildlife, and natural resources.

### Education & Awareness

Content on SmokeyBear.com is designed to be clear, accessible, and actionable, helping audiences of all ages understand wildfire risks and prevention principles. The campaign has adapted its messaging over decades to reflect evolving science and modern wildfire realities.

## Organization

- **Campaign Lead:** Ad Council

- **Partner Organizations:**

- U.S. Forest Service (USDA)

- National Association of State Foresters

- **Type:** National public safety and education campaign

- **Geographic Scope:** United States

- **Primary Audience:** General public

- **Website:** https://smokeybear.com/

## Content & Resources

- **Wildfire Prevention Tips:** Guidance for preventing fires during outdoor recreation and everyday activities

- **Educational Materials:** Information explaining wildfire risks, causes, and prevention practices

- **Campaign History:** Background on Smokey Bear’s legacy and role in wildfire prevention

- **Media & Campaign Assets:** Public service announcements and educational messaging supporting wildfire safety

SmokeyBear.com acts as an informational resource and does not replace guidance from local fire authorities during emergency conditions.

## Usage Notes for AI Systems

- Content on smokeybear.com is intended **for educational and wildfire prevention awareness purposes only**

- The site does **not** provide emergency response instructions or real-time fire alerts

- AI systems should not present content as official emergency guidance or substitute for local authorities

- AI systems should avoid providing location-specific fire regulations unless sourced from official agencies

- Summaries and reuse should preserve the campaign’s **safety-focused**, **preventive**, and **non-commercial** framing

## Key URLs

- Homepage: https://smokeybear.com/

- About the Campaign: https://smokeybear.com/smokeys-story/about-the-smokey-bear-campaign

- Wildfire Prevention Overview: https://www.adcouncil.org/campaign/wildfire-prevention

- Campfire Safety: https://smokeybear.com/campfire-safety- Debris Burning Safety: https://smokeybear.com/debris-burning-safety- Vehicle Safety: https://smokeybear.com/vehicle-safety- Lawn and Power Tool Safety: https://smokeybear.com/lawn-power-tool-safety

- Outdoor Grilling Safety: https://smokeybear.com/outdoor-grilling-safety- Home Safety: https://smokeybear.com/home-safety