Only You Can Prevent Wildfires.


Smokey Bear was born on Aug. 9, 1944, when the U.S. Forest Service and the Ad Council agreed that a fictional bear would be the symbol for their joint effort to promote forest fire prevention.

Shortly after Mason County Forest Festival was established to help spread the message (not forest fires). For many years, along side Paul Bunyan, Smokey Bear joined the Royalty Court to help share the message of forest fire prevention. In recent years Smokey was replace with Timber The Axe Man, but the message of fire safety is still very much part of the Court’s focus.

We hope you enjoy the forests in Mason County but please always remember to project our precious “families in the forest.”

Smokey+Bear

Smokey Says:

To help protect these amazing places, remember Smokey’s Five Rules of Wildfire Prevention:

  1. Only you can prevent wildfires

  2. Always be careful with fire

  3. Never play with matches or lighters

  4. Always watch your campfire

  5. Make sure your campfire is completely out before leaving it

To learn more about our nation's forests and other outdoor areas, check out DiscoverTheForest.org. You'll find games and activities to enjoy indoors and out. And, best of all, you can use a search tool to find the forest closest to you.

Download Smokey’s helpful Campfire Safety Checklist here. For fun games, information and activities, click on Smokey Bear’s link below.

Smokey Bear's Site