Big up to our boy Smokey Bear (not Smokey The Bear) who is celebrating 80-years on the job. Smokey got his start way back in 1944 with this poster produced by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and has gone on to star in countless print, radio, tv and nowadays social media posts raising awareness about wildfire prevention:

Here’s a quick video celebrating Smokey’s 80 years of service:

We salute you big fella. Here’s a couple pics of Smokey throughout the years:

President Truman receives a Smokey the Bear sign from U.S. Forest Service chief Lyle F. Watts (far r) in the Oval Office. Witnessing the event are: North Carolina State Forester W. K Beichler (far l); Secretary of Agriculture Charles F. Brennan (2nd l); and Fire Warden James W. Simon of Los Angeles. | Location: The Oval Office, The White House, Washington D. C., USA. (Photo by © CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)

Francis Xavier is a seasoned writer for Unofficial Networks, bringing a lifetime of outdoor experience to his work. Having lived in a ski resort town for years he has a deep connection to mountain culture....