Fort Vancouver Celebrates Smokey Bear’s 78th Birthday

Come to the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center, 1501 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, from 10 a.m. to noon Aug. 12 to celebrate Smokey Bear’s 78th birthday. Smokey Bear was a real bear cub rescued from a forest fire by a US Forest Service ranger in August 1945. His messages to prevent forest and wildfires have endured to today. The Vancouver Fire Department will be at the event as will Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle. Smokey Bear movies will play in the visitor center theater and souvenirs are available for sale in the Friends’ Bookstore and Gallery. The event is free.