Smokey Bear Joins Local Partners at State Fair Parade

by Mescalero Apache Tribe | September 17, 2024 2:20 pm

Smokey Bear waves at his fans during the New Mexico State Fair Parade, where he was honored to serve as a Grand Marshall. Smokey celebrates 80 years of wildfire prevention messaging this year. He was accompanied by Lincoln National Forest employees, in a nod to his New Mexico roots when he was found as a cub on the Lincoln National Forest in 1950. Smokey was also accompanied by Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford, in a show of the ongoing partnership between the Forest Service and local communities hit by the South Fork and Salt Fires earlier this year.

ALBUQUERQUE, New Mexico, September 17, 2024 – Smokey Bear, the iconic symbol of wildfire prevention, took center stage as a Grand Marshall of the New Mexico State Fair Parade on Saturday, September 7, 2024, accompanied by Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford, his wife, Traci, and Lincoln National Forest employee Erica Enjady. The appearance of the famous bear not only celebrated his 80th birthday, but paid homage to his New Mexico roots, where he was found as a cub in 1950 on the Lincoln National Forest near Capitan.

This group appearance also served as a reminder of the resilience of the communities recovering from the devastating South Fork and Salt Fires, and the continued partnerships that will help these communities move forward.

Enjady, who served on the Lincoln as the Public Services Staff Officer this summer, said that the parade was an opportunity to highlight Smokey’s decades of wildfire prevention messaging, and how the little bear that was born in New Mexico so many years ago continues to reach millions of fans.

“Even after 80 years, Smokey Bear continues to help us spread the word and educate the public on wildfire,” Enjady said. “He helps us have important conversations about the natural role fire can have in keeping diverse and healthy ecosystems. We are grateful to the New Mexico State Fair for the opportunity to help share Smokey’s message and highlight our ongoing commitment to communities surrounding the Lincoln.”

In June, the communities of Ruidoso, Mescalero, and Alto received national attention when they were affected by two wildfires, which resulted in the loss of two lives. Burning more than 17,000 acres, the wildfires also destroyed more than 1,000 structures on private property. The effects of those incidents continued as record-breaking flash floods resulting from the fires further affected communities in Ruidoso and Mescalero.

A massive interagency effort, from local resources such as the Smokey Bear Hotshots and volunteer fire departments, to the New Mexico National Guard and emergency response teams from throughout the country, were able to eventually confine and have both fires. Currently, recovery partnerships continue as families remain displaced from both wildfires and flash floods. Local economies, which rely heavily on tourism, are slowly moving forward as well.

Mayor Crawford emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and long-term solutions to mitigate future wildfire risks in the area. “We continue to work closely with our community and government partners as we move forward,” he said. “We’re focused on protecting our communities and forests through proper land management and public education.”

Ruidoso Mayor Lynn Crawford and his wife Traci take a quick photo with Smokey Bear following the New Mexico State Fair Parade on Saturday, Sept. 7, in Albuquerque. The Crawfords served alongside Smokey as Grand Marshalls for the Parade, in recognition of the ongoing recovery efforts in communities affected by the South Fork and Salt Fires earlier this year.

Source URL: https://mescaleroapachetribe.com/22099/smokey-bear-joins-local-partners-at-state-fair-parade/