1952
Newsweek reported that in 1951 “blazes burned 10,781,039 acres of forest lands, destroying almost $50,000,000 worth of growing timber.” However, Smokey Bear was helping raise awareness and reduce wildfire incidents. “Since he started his crusade [in 1944], forest fires have decreased 90 per cent of the normal prewar level, despite the fact that 45 per cent more human beings have taken to the woods.” Last year, Smokey Bear celebrated his 75th birthday, just after California experienced its worst fire season on record, with an estimated 1,963,101 acres burned.