Photos by Mary Alice Murphy
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey poses with Alysha Taylor, Jubilee Kline, Rebekah Taylor and David Taylor
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey dwarfs David Holguin
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Bob Pelham shakes Smokey's hand
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey between Maya Johns and Donna Samuels
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey and Ellen Brown, Gila National Forest fire prevention specialist
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey hugs a dog
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
The inside of a Happy Birthday card
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey accepts a personal birthday card
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey relaxing
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey look-alikes
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey invited Brexton Gordon in for a bear hug, which he accepted.
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey close up
Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918
Smokey with Jaylene and Zack Lawrence
The Gila National Forest hosted a birthday party for Smokey Bear on his 74th birthday on Aug. 9, 2018. Ellen Brown, GNF fire prevention specialist, said each child received an activity book, pencils, a Smokey coloring book and crayons and an antenna ball. Plus the colorful cupcakes that the Forest Service served to children and adults. Brown said next year on Smokey's 75th birthday, a national celebration will take place.
"We're trying to shift the message to be safe with fire," Brown said. "The new message is 'Watch your flame.'"