1944 - August 9 – The United States Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council release posters featuring Smokey Bear for the first time.

The creation of Smokey Bear was a response to the need for forest fire prevention during World War II. The concern was that enemy attacks might set off wildfires on the West Coast, where Japanese submarines had been spotted. The iconic character was based on a real bear cub who was rescued from a wildfire in New Mexico in 1950. The cub, who suffered burns, was named Smokey Bear and became the living symbol of fire prevention. His message, "Only YOU can prevent forest fires," has since become deeply ingrained in American culture.