Fire prevention posters
Posters have been an important part of forest fire prevention advertising since the 1930´s. There has been little change in the fire prevention message, but the posters themselves reflect the constantly changing styles, attitudes, and events in American culture.
Hundreds of different forest fire prevention posters have been produced over the years No complete archive exists and it is doubtful that all posters have even been catalogued.
The most important icon of forest fire prevention is, of course, Smokey Bear. Smokey first appeared on a 1944 poster by Albert Stahle; the bear has been a mainstay of fire prevention poster art ever since. Smokey posters are highly prized by collectors. The posters shown here are part of the SC Forestry Commission’s archived collection.
1949 Transportation Poster Used in advertising frames in buses and trains. 
1950 Transportation Poster Used in advertising frames in buses and trains. 
1950 Many early fire prevention posters focused on fires caused by cigarette smoking and campfires. 
1951 South Carolina artist Jak Smyrl produced these three posters for the SC Forestry Commission. (Both the Smokey poster and the father-son poster carry the “hand and little tree” imagery from the famous photo by SCFC foresters Nelson Peach and John Witherspoon.) 
1951 South Carolina artist Jak Smyrl produced these three posters for the SC Forestry Commission. (Both the Smokey poster and the father-son poster carry the “hand and little tree” imagery from the famous photo by SCFC foresters Nelson Peach and John Witherspoon.) 
1951 South Carolina artist Jak Smyrl produced these three posters for the SC Forestry Commission. (Both the Smokey poster and the father-son poster carry the “hand and little tree” imagery from the famous photo by SCFC foresters Nelson Peach and John Witherspoon.) 
1951 This theme was repeated on another poster the following year. 
1952 The phrase “give us strength” may reflect concern over the Korean War. 
1952 Continued emphasis on cigarette smoking and campfires. 
1952 poster 
1953 Religious symbolism was used frequently in early fire prevention posters. Note cross on grave in background. 
1955 Biblical reference to the book of Deuteronomy. 
1955 Another reference to cigarette smoking and campfires. Several posters over the years have used the chalkboard format. 
1956 This fire prevention poster capitalized on the fact that 1956 was an election year. In November, Eisenhower was elected to his second term as President of the U.S. 
1956 This poster recognized the Girl Scouts as a partners in forest fire prevention. A Boy Scout poster was also issued. 
1956 Smokey Stand-Up This piece had a fold-out brace attached to the back allowing the poster to be used as a free-standing display. 
1957 (National poster) The 1957 national poster is strongly reminiscent of the 1951 SC Forestry Commission poster. 
1957 poster 
1958 Several other posters over the years are very similar to this one. 
1958 Both these posters reflect Judeo-Christian religious influence. 
1958 Both these posters reflect Judeo-Christian religious influence. 
1959 poster 
1960 Odd-sized transportation poster used in buses and trains. 
1960 Injured or endangered animals provided an emotional appeal in a number of fire prevention posters. 
1960 poster 
1960 Produced by the Southern Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Campaign and distributed in the south, this is one of several posters featuring artwork in a style frequently associated with Pink Panther cartoons. (The Pink Panther first appeared in 1964.) 
1961 poster 
1960s In this undated poster from the 60s, Smokey is promoting summer reading for children. This is probably a South Carolina modification of a 1959 fire prevention poster. 
1961 poster 
1962 poster 
1962 Another Southern Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Campaign poster focusing on woods arson. 
1963 Woods arson has always been the primary theme of the Southern Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Campaign. 
1963 Southern Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Campaign. 
1963 Another religious theme, showing Smokey with an injured paw. Smokey and several other animals have teardrops visible on their faces. 
1963 This is one of several posters produced with a smaller companion cardboard stand-up. The stand-ups featured a folding prop on the back to allow display on a desk or table. 
1963 A-B-C´s of fire prevention was the theme of several posters in the 1960s. 
1964 A stand-up (left) shown with its companion poster. While posters were almost always rectangular, many stand-ups were die-cut shapes. 
1964 Another A-B-C poster. 
1964 poster 
1964 Southern Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Campaign. 
1965 poster 
1965 poster 
1965 This table-top stand-up was also issued as a full sized poster. 
1966 Another version of the A-B-C theme. 
1966 Several posters in the late 60´s used portrait artwork rather than cartoon artwork. A cardboard stand-up of this poster was also issued. 
1966 This poster combined portrait art and cartoon art. 
1967 A stand-up of this poster was also issued in 1967. 
1967 The style of this poster is reminiscent of coloring book art. 
1967 Yet another variation on the A-B-C theme. 
1969 poster 
1970 poster 
1970 poster 
1970 Southern Cooperative Forest Fire Prevention Campaign. 
1971 The artwork on this poster is photographed paper sculpture. 
1971 Perhaps because Smokey´s message was so well known, this poster only carried his picture. 
1971 The emotional message of vulnerable baby animals is a recurring theme in fire prevention posters. 
1971 Even Snoopy appeared as an advocate for wildfire prevention. 
1972 The matchbook theme has been featured in a number of posters over the years. 
1972 poster 
1973 Several “soft and pretty” pastel posters were produced in the 70s. These were especially popular with young children. 
1973 poster 
1974? Bambi was the first animated advocate of wildfire prevention, appearing on a poster in 1944. While not dated, the poster shown above may have been produced for the 30th anniversary of the 1944 Bambi poster. Smokey took over fire prevention duties in the 1945 poster campaign. 
1974 Costumes have been used for Smokey´s personal appearances since the 1950s, but this may be the first time a costumed Smokey appeared on a poster. (The SC Forestry Commission produced a poster with a costumed Smokey as part of the post-Hurricane Hugo Gimme 12 fire prevention campaign.) 
1974 Another reminder that wildfires threaten homes, this poster is a photograph of a model house engulfed in flames. 
1974 poster 
1975 poster 
1976 Smokey celebrated the nation´s bicentennial in this poster. 
1976 poster 
1977 The message on this poster reflects national statistics. In South Carolina, about 40% of all wildfires are caused by careless burning. 
1977 This poster was also produced as a paper place mat. 
1977 poster 
1978 Although Smokey may not be used to advertise a commercial product, this poster was approved as a forest fire prevention item. 
1978 poster 
1978 poster 
1979 poster 
1979 poster