Smokey Bear is coming to the Pine Bush for his annual visit on Saturday in a year when the area has been smothered with smoke from Canadian wildfires. So his signature phrase, “Only you can prevent wildfires,” has urgent meaning.

Nearly nine out of 10 wildfires nationwide are caused by people.

The Pine Bush Preserve, however, has carefully controlled prescribed fires, which both encourage native species and also prevent wildfires.

 “We invite the community to come out and meet Smokey Bear with this free annual event,” said Christopher Hawver, director of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, in a release. “Smokey Bear Day provides a family-friendly opportunity to learn why fire is an important natural component to this globally-rare ecosystem.”

Smokey Bear Day runs from 10 a.m to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Discovery Center located at 195 New Karner Road.

Since 1944, Smokey Bear has protected America’s forests from unwanted, human-caused fire. Smokey’s is the longest-running public-service campaign in the nation’s history.

In 1950, a real-life bear cub, orphaned by a forest fire in New Mexico, became a living symbol of Smokey. A New Mexico Department of Game and Fish ranger put the burned cub on a plane to Santa Fe, where his burns were treated and bandaged.

“Soon, the United Press and Associated Press broadcast his story nationwide, and many people wrote and called, asking about the cub’s recovery,” according to SmokeyBear.com. “The state game warden wrote to the chief of the Forest Service, offering to present the cub to the agency as long as the cub would be dedicated to a conservation and wildfire prevention publicity program.

“The cub was soon on his way to the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., becoming the living symbol of Smokey Bear. Smokey received numerous gifts of honey and so many letters he had to have his own zip code.

“He remained at the zoo until his death in 1976, when he was returned to his home to be buried at the Smokey Bear Historical Park in Capitan, New Mexico, where he continues to be a wildfire prevention legend.”

Visitors to Smokey Bear Day in the Pine Bush Preserve will learn how the commission uses prescribed fire to keep the Albany Pine Bush Preserve, listed as a National Natural Landmark, a healthy habitat for the unusual species of plants and animals that thrive there

 Smokey Bear and a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forest ranger will make appearances throughout the day, and commission fire management and education staff will be on hand.

“There will be interactive exhibits on prescribed fire, refreshments and Smokey goody bags for visitors to take home,” Erin Kinal, Education Program director, said in the release. “Visitors will have multiple opportunities throughout the event to meet Smokey Bear.”

— Melissa Hale-Spencer