Smokey Bear Convention concludes at Cd'A Resort

COEUR d’ALENE — Brenda Garitone worked for the Forest Service for more than 30 years. She was there when Smokey Bear found his way into America’s heart.

“Over the years I’ve collected Smokey gadgets and I get to give (my grandsons) one every once in awhile,” she said. “I like that they still get to learn about Smokey in the schools.”

Tuesday, she brought her daughter and two grandsons to the Smokey Bear Convention at The Coeur d’Alene Resort. It was hosted by the Smokey Bear Association, a nationwide group of Smokey Bear enthusiasts dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Smokey Bear’s message and influence.

The three-day convention ended Wednesday and featured speakers and collectors of Smokey memorabilia. Tuesday, the convention opened to the public. Kids and their families were invited to participate in a coloring contest and other fun activities. There were plenty of chances to learn about fire prevention, and of course, an opportunity to meet Smokey himself. The Missoula Smokejumpers were there, letting the kids try on their gear and Smokey Bear collectors were there, too, selling collectibles.

For Tuesday’s public event, the Smokey Bear Association teamed up with Kootenai County Fire Prevention Cooperative. The co-op is composed of every fire agency in Kootenai County, the U.S. Forest Service, the Idaho Department of Lands and the Idaho State Fire Marshal.

This month, the co-op is giving presentations at all the schools in Kootenai County. Co-op representatives present a skit about fire prevention, Smokey Bear makes an appearance and kids have the

opportunity to win a prize if they bring home the information and teach their families what they learned.

“It’s wonderful the Smokey group has asked us to team up with them, so we’re really honored to do that,” said Jim Lyon, deputy fire marshal for the Northern Lakes Fire District and treasurer of the co-op. “We’re really excited and I think it will be real fun for the kiddos.”

The majority of the Smokey Bear convention consisted of speakers and exhibitions of Smokey Bear paraphernalia. Jack Winchell, association president, said people could show their collections, buy items, and learn the history of their Smokey Bear collectibles.

“We’re trying to have a Smokey Antiques Roadshow,” he said. “People can see what we have and get the kids involved to learn about fire safety.”

Dawn and Jim Fazio are some of the founding members of the Smokey Bear Association and have been producing ‘Woodland Catalog: Featuring Smokey Bear’ for 30 years. They buy Smokey Bear items from vendors and sometimes make Smokey items, which they then have to get licensed by the Forest Service to make sure the logo and colors are right. They sell their items in the catalog and at conventions like this one.

Jodi Rule-Rouse, another collector at the convention, said she always asks people how and why they became interested in Smokey. She loves hearing people’s stories because it’s a way to connect with them.

“My husband was a forest ranger for a season and brought home a Smokey tailgate sign,” she said. “That started the collection 30 years ago.”