FromtheJournalist’sDesk
“I knew a guy whose uncle helped rescue Smokey Bear,” I said aloud as Paul exclaimed that it was officially Smokey Bear’s 79th birthday.
“What do you mean? He’s a real bear?” he questioned.
“He definitely was,” I said, recounting some wildfire prevention knowledge I had long since tucked away in my mind.
In Collin County, where I worked for 13 years at a group of newspapers, I had the privilege of getting to know a gentleman named Steve Deffibaugh who served as fire marshal for many years, then as a city council member and then as an assistant fire chief.
For murder mystery fans he was also an investigator with the Candy Montgomery murder case that Hulu made famous last year. His character was played by Justin Timberlake.
However, anyone who visits with Steve for very long will find out about his favorite subject: Smokey Bear and fire prevention.
For those unfamiliar with the real Smokey Bear story, though the character of Smokey was started in 1944 as a fire prevention icon, a small real bear cub was rescued in 1950 in the Capitan Mountains of New Mexico after a wildfire broke out The little bear cub climbed a tree to get to safety and though he escaped with his life, his paws and hind legs were badly burned. A fire crew rescued the bear and turned him over to a rancher who agreed to take him home.
Deffibaugh’s great uncle Homer C. Pickens, was appointed by the New Mexico Game and Fish Department to assist with the bear cub rescued from the fire.
If you’re a bear cub rescued from a fire there is only one name that fits. Smokey Bear was born.
Later, Pickens flew Smokey to the Washington D.C. zoo and he was named as Smokey’s official caretaker.
This close link drives Deffibaugh’s passion to promoteSmokey’sprevention message and helps his audience understand the consequences of wildfires on wildlife and communities.
In 2015, Deffibaugh was awarded the Bronze Smokey Bear Award, a fitting reward for a family steeped in fire prevention tradition.
A s droughts and high temperatures remain in the area, the Texas A&M ForestService i s encouraging everyone to celebrate Smokey B e a r ’ s birthday in the most fitting way possible - by being ex t remely cautious with all outdoor activities that create heat or sparks. As a national icon and the longest-running public service campaign in the United States, Smokey Bear has been teaching millions of people how to prevent wildfires since 1944.
Across the nation, approximately nine out of 10 wildfires are humancaused. As we all celebrate Smokey Bear’s birthday, let’s remember one thing: only we can prevent wildfires.
— Wyndi Veigel is the content editor for The Dublin Citizen and can be reached at composing@dublincitizen.com.