Our 6 foot, 3 dimensional Smokey Bear is an impressive life sized figure weighing in around 200 pounds. He is constructed of heavy duty fiberglass with a powder coated inner steel frame welded to a ¼ inch thick powder coated steel mounting base plate.

Each Smokey is individually hand painted with premium acrylic paints and is finished with several coats of a clear copolymer UV resistant top coat.

Each Smokey is numbered with an engraved brass plaque mounted on the base plate. Smokey Bear comes with installation instructions and hardware, a paint touch-up kit, and “Care for Smokey Bear” instructions.

Our 3D Smokey Bear Base Unit is made of heavy duty fiberglass cast around a thick marine grade plywood core. The base unit is equipped with all mounting hardware and a sub grade anchoring system for permanent outdoor installations. The Base Unit can also be out-fitted with casters to make Smokey “mobile”

The idea of Smokey Bear was conceived in 1944 during World War II after an enemy shell landed on the Los Padres National Forest off the coast of California. The United States Forest Service felt a national symbol was needed to aid in a fire prevention campaign and after many candidates, decided to use a bear. The Forest Service and the Wartime Advertising Council named the bear Smokey after a well respected New York Assistant Fire Chief, “Smokey” Joe Martin.

Capitan, New Mexico is famous for the birthplace and burial site of the world’s most well known bear. On May 9, 1950 in the aftermath of a devastating, human caused fire in the Capitan Mountains, a badly burned five pound black bear cub was found. Ray Bell, the warden that cared for the little cub, wanted to name the bear ”Smokey” after the national symbol for forest fire prevention.

Shortly after he was found and was on his way back to health, plans began to form that led to Smokey being placed the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. There, he became the living symbol for forest fire prevention.

When Smokey grew old and plans were being made for his retirement, the people of Capitan wanted their bear returned to his hometown. United States Congressman Harold Runnels listened to their requests and introduced a bill advocating the return of Smokey Bear to Capitan. Thanks to the Congressman’s concern, and following Smokey’s death in November 1976, his body was returned to Capitan and buried at what is now Smokey Bear Historical Park.