Smokey Bear’s Message Takes Flight: Celebrating Fire Prevention Week at the World’s Busiest Airport

Earlier this week, travelers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport were greeted by one of America’s most familiar figures, Smokey Bear, through a special art exhibit celebrating his legacy and the importance of wildfire prevention.

The display, developed by the USDA Forest Service Southern Region in partnership with the airport, showcased the artwork of Rudy Wendelin, the renowned artist whose paintings helped define Smokey Bear for generations. Wendelin’s work captures Smokey’s enduring message, “Only You Can Prevent Wildfires,” and continues to inspire awareness and care for the forests and communities we all depend on.

Located in the airport’s domestic terminal atrium, the exhibit offers a striking visual reminder of Smokey’s role in American conservation history. Passengers moving through the busy concourse paused to view Wendelin’s iconic illustrations, some dating back decades, each emphasizing the importance of everyday choices in preventing human-caused wildfires. The timing of the exhibit, coinciding with Fire Prevention Week, provided an ideal opportunity to spotlight wildfire prevention as a shared responsibility, particularly during a season when dry leaves, low humidity, and gusty winds heighten risk throughout the South.

Members of the Southern Group of State Foresters (SGSF), along with representatives from the Georgia Forestry Commission, Florida Forest Service, South Carolina Forestry Commission and Mississippi Forestry Commission, supported the effort by staffing information tables, greeting travelers, and sharing practical tips for reducing wildfires in the South. Smokey Bear himself made appearances to engage with children and families, reminding visitors that prevention starts with awareness and simple, easy actions.

The event highlighted the strong partnership between Region 8 and state forestry agencies across the South, who work together year-round to promote wildfire prevention, forest resilience, and public safety. By bringing Smokey’s message to the world’s busiest airport, this collaboration extended a familiar call to action to millions of travelers: wildfire prevention starts with all of us.