Middleboro– Children had the chance to make a furry friend and learn about the history of wildfire prevention at the Middleboro Public Library on Thursday, Aug 1. 

In honor of Smokey Bear’s 80 birthday, Wildland firefighters from the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation Bureau of Fire Control and Forestry read Smokey’s story, discussed campfire safety and showed kids what a Wildland Fire Engine looks like. 

Audience members learned about the bear cub that would become the symbol of the 1944 U.S. Forestry Service advertising campaign after being badly burned in a wildfire. 

The Smokey Bear Wildfire Prevention Campaign is the longest-running public service ad campaign in U.S. history, according to the U.S. Forest Service. 

After hearing Smokey’s story, kids and parents walked away with a deeper understanding of fire safety.

Nine-year-old Kayleigh Card said Smokey’s story taught her to “stay far away from fires” and to use water to put them out. 

Autumn Amara learned to keep her distance from a flame. If you’re too close to a fire, she said, “it might burn you like Smokey,” she said. She added that next time she goes camping, she’ll help her dad put the fire out.

Parents also took away a lesson on fire prevention. Autumn's mother Ann admitted that as an adult, it’s easy to forget how dangerous fires can be. The story, she said, sends the message “that you really need to be more careful.” 

As part of the lesson, youngsters got the chance to meet a suited-up Smokey Bear, who Alby Amara described as being “big” and “friendly.” 

In attendance was District Fire Warden Michael Marquardt, who talked to kids about what to do in the case of an outdoor fire. 

“We’re always looking to promote Smokey’s message and how to be careful with outside fires, particularly [around] this time of year when a lot of families enjoy camping and things like that,” he said.

“The biggest message is being careful with fire and making sure when you leave the fire that it’s completely out.”