Smokey Bear has a 74th birthday party 080918

Photos by Mary Alice Murphy

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.'"