The artist James Montgomery Flagg, who had created the famous Uncle Sam, WWI recruiting poster in 1917, also created a fire prevention poster in 1937. Smokey Bear was created in 1944 as the benevolent protector of forests from carelessly-set wildfires. Finally in 1985 the Ad Council invoked Flagg’s appeal to conscience again, this time with Smokey pointing his finger at the viewer. So familiar was the imagery and the slogans, that “ONLY YOU” was necessary. #smokeybear #firehistory #wildfire