For 76 years now, Smokey the Bear has been the face of the National Forest Service and their campaign to prevent wildfires. The story of Smokey the Bear dates back to 1944, when the US Forest Service and the Ad Council came up with the image of a bear dousing campfire flames with a bucket of water. Fast forward to 1950, in New Mexico, a group of firefighters found a young bear cub badly burned in a tree. They took the orphaned cub and named him "Smokey."

According to the US Forest Service Website

News about this real bear named Smokey spread across the Nation, and he was soon given a new home at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C. The living symbol of Smokey Bear, he played an important role in spreading messages of wildfire prevention and forest conservation. Smokey died in 1976 and was returned to Capitan, New Mexico, where he is buried in the State Historical Park.

Now, 76 years after the start of the wildfire prevention ad campaign, a BEAR caused a WILDFIRE on Ravalli Hill near the National Bison Range.

According the Montanaoutdoor.com

A bear climbed a power pole, was electrocuted and started a small wildfire on Ravalli Hill north of Missoula on Sunday.

The fire burned 2 acres, according to the CSKT Division of Fire.

We are nearing the peak of "fire season" here in Western Montana. If you do find yourself camping, or just enjoying the great outdoors, remember "Only you can prevent forest fires."

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