Fire Safety Fun Facts!
We all learned fire safety in school and with it came the famously fun Stop Drop and Roll. We also met the fuzzy faces of fire safety that help us feel good about our part in fire safety and prevention. But where did they come from? Here are some fun facts that you might not know from the fire safety classes of your youth!
WHO’S LINE IS IT ANYWAY?
The Origin of Stop Drop & Roll:
In the late 1970s, the first fire safety PSA that would soon become Stop, Drop and Roll starred Dick Van Dyke, rolling on the floor as he explained the importance of rolling out flames caught on clothing to the public.
WHO LET THE DOGS OUT…AND WHEN?
The Origin of Sparky the Fire Dog:
He was conceived at the 1950 NFPA Annual Meeting in Atlantic City, New Jersey, where the association announced that the Advertising Council had approved a national fire-prevention campaign to be launched in 1951, with NFPA as sponsor. The new initiative needed a symbol, and it was a no-brainer. Inspired by the success of Smokey Bear, the burly ursine symbol of the U.S. Forest Service, NFPA decided to create a Dalmatian character, using the dog traditionally associated with the fire service. The rest, as they say, is history, as Sparky has become a national figure and a beloved advocate for fire safety.
CLEARING THE AIR ON SMOKEY THE BEAR!
The Origin of Smokey the Bear:
On August 9, 1944, the creation of Smokey Bear was authorized by the Forest Service, and the first poster was delivered on October 10 by artist Albert Staehle. The poster depicted a bear pouring a bucket of water on a campfire. Smokey Bear soon became popular, and his image began appearing on more posters and cards.
