KOIN.com

Smokey Bear featured on new Oregon plate

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Only you can prevent forest fires.

That’s the famous line from Smokey Bear. And now Smokey Bear will be looking at you from a brand new Oregon license plate design.

The plate, a partnership between Keep Oregon Green, the USDA Forest Service and the Oregon Department of Forestry, was launched Monday, coinciding with a nationwide celebration of Smokey Bear’s 75th anniversary.

The new Smokey plate will be promoted on social media, using #DriveWithSmokey until they sell 3000 vouchers for the plate. Once they get that many vouchers, the Oregon DMV will begin making the plate.

A voucher costs $40 and can be purchased through DriveWithSmokey.com

Officials said 79% of the wildfires in Oregon in 2018 were human-caused, “and they are completely preventable,” said Kristin Babbs, the CEO for Keep Oregon Green. “Wildfire awareness opportunities like this will help ingrain it in Oregonian’s DNA.”