Ronny

New Mexico wildfire threatens Smokey Bear's home

By Kitty Bean Yancey, USA TODAY

Updated 14h 56m ago

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One of the serious forest fires in New Mexico is in the area where the legendary Smokey the Bear was found as a cub.

A fire in New Mexico is threatening the home of the late Forest Service mascot Smokey the Bear in Arizona. Smokey, depicted here in a 2007 file photo, was found in Lincoln National Forest in 1950.

CAPTION

By Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

The "Little Bear" fire is burning in the Smokey the Bear Ranger District, White Mountain Wilderness and Lincoln National Forest in southern New Mexico near Ruidoso. The forest is where the scared bear cub was rescued in 1950. He went on to become the symbol of the U.S. Forest Service, with an animated version growling, "Only YOU can prevent forest fires!" in public service announcements.
The good news is that so far, fire has not threatened Smokey's grave, which is in nearby Capitan, N.M. As of late Sunday, the Smokey Bear Motel and Restaurant there was open for business. A restaurant staffer said Capitan was not affected by the fire. And late Sunday also brought encouraging reports that the Little Bear fire was 60% contained.
Smokey lived at the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., until he died in 1976 and was taken home to New Mexico to be buried in Capitan. More information on the grave is at roadsideamerica.com. There's a museum, too.
Smokey lives on at a website where you can learn how to prevent wildfires and take a pledge to help stop them.
P.S.: I have heard from a couple of readers who want to tell me that Smokey's official name is simply Smokey Bear. That's true. But over the years, the cultural icon has been referred to as "Smokey the Bear" by many Americans. Maybe it has something to do with the song Smokey The Bear, sung by two other icons -- Gene Autry and Eddy Arnold -- in the past.
http://travel.usatoday.com/destinations/dispatches/post/2012/06/new-mexico-wildfire-targets-smokey-the-bears-home/717689/1