Bill Nye and content creators join in on Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday bash

The festivities are spearheaded by the US Forest Service (USFS), the National Association of State Foresters (NASF) and the Ad Council.

Smokey Bear’s ‘Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires‘ message has become a hallmark of fire safety and pop culture since its emergence during World War II, with celebrities including Bing Crosby, Ray Charles and Stephen Colbert each adding their charm to the cause.

Today, the year-long birthday celebration unveils a vibrant influencer marketing blitz, with prominent personalities such as scientist Bill Nye, actor Brian Tyree Henry and librarian-turned-content-creator Mychal Threets each participating through paid partnerships and using their social media accounts to spread Smokey’s fire prevention message.

The creator campaign has already seen heartfelt tributes from notable figures, with Nye writing on Instagram: “Happy 80th Birthday @smokeybear! Thank you for teaching us about our role in preventing unwanted, human-caused wildfires for the last 80 years. We are grateful for your dedication, education and good work.”

Mychal Threets also shared his appreciation: “Happy 80th birthday, Smokey Bear ... Thank you for wildfire prevention tips like ‘don’t let backyard bonfires burn out of sight.’”

Additional contributors include Latina artist Andrea Campos, who created a Smokey Bear illustration in her signature style, TikToker and outdoor enthusiast Gray Atkinson, and campfire culinarian Gigi Nguyen.

The celebrations were previously kicked off by FCB New York with a special short film titled ‘Decades,’ released in February. This film, along with a series of print ads and out-of-home (OOH) materials, examined the evolution of Smokey’s message over the decades.

“When I speak to our work at the Ad Council, naturally Smokey Bear is one of the first campaigns that come to mind because it embodies the long-standing impact and issue recognition we aim to achieve across everything we do,” said Lisa Sherman, president and chief executive of the Ad Council.

“A public service campaign with this longevity, scope and impact is unprecedented, and we look forward to spreading Smokey’s message of wildfire prevention for many years to come.”

The year-long celebration highlights Smokey’s enduring relevance and reinforces the critical importance of wildfire prevention. The campaign is further supported by a diverse range of partners and media outlets, including The Atlantic, Branded Cities, BuzzFeed, Dotdash Meredith, LiveIntent, Nativo, National CineMedia (NCM), Pinterest, Roku, SiriusXM Media, Twitch, Uber and the Weather Channel.

Media agencies Hearts & Science and Starcom have also contributed through donated media, amplifying its reach.

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