Smokey鈥檚 return: Bureau of Forestry extends gracious invitation to young girl disappointed in sign theft
We often view government as detached from and unresponsive to everyday citizens. But there are exceptions, brought to life by the many individual government employees who care deeply about their responsibilities, the missions of their agencies, and the people they serve.
Readers who travel Route 40 east over Summit Mountain likely noticed the disappearance last summer of Smokey Bear from the fire hazard sign at the Summit scenic overlook. A local crew with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry placed Smokey and his fire warning placards there in April 2022. Smokey stood as a symbol of our region鈥檚 outstanding forest resource, and the care Bureau of Forestry personnel give to those forests.
Sadly, someone stole Smokey Bear from his duty-post. My granddaughter, Safari Moyer, age 8, was disappointed in Smokey鈥檚 absence. She enjoyed waving to him as we passed, and we often discussed his symbolic meaning during our travels over the mountain.
During some recent unrelated communication, I told Cory Wentzel about my granddaughter鈥檚 lament of Smokey鈥檚 theft. He must have heard me well. Cory is the Assistant Manager of the Bureau of Forestry鈥檚 Forbes Forest District, headquartered in Laughlintown, Westmoreland County. Our local component of the Forbes District is the Braddock Division, based at the fire tower and offices on Skyline Drive just south of Laurel Caverns.
The Bureau of Forestry is a subdivision of the Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources, which also houses the Bureau of State Parks, manager of Ohiopyle State Park.
The Forbes District assists private woodland owners with forest management in 11 southwestern Pennsylvania counties. It also manages the Forbes State Forest, 50,000 acres of mountaintop forest in Fayette, Somerset, and Westmoreland counties.
Cory told me that Smokey Bear鈥檚 image can only be manufactured and reproduced by licensed suppliers, but that a replacement sign had been ordered from a supplier in Colorado. The new Smokey would arrive here sometime in the fall or early winter of 2024.
Then, around Christmas, I received an email from Cory informing me that Smokey Bear would soon be back on duty on Summit Mountain, and inviting Safari to help put him back at his post.
I was impressed that he remembered my granddaughter鈥檚 disappointment.
We met Cory, Brody Halfhill, forest laborer, and Ryan O鈥橬eil, forest maintenance supervisor, at the scenic overlook on Thursday, Jan. 2. Despite the cold wind and snow, Safari was eager to help with Smokey鈥檚 reinstallation. Safari, Brody, and Cory all carried Smokey from a Bureau of Forestry pickup truck to the fire warning frame, then Ryan reattached Smokey back into place, where he resumed his role welcoming forest users to the region and advising caution with fire.
鈥淲e鈥檙e all glad Smokey鈥檚 back,鈥� Wentzel said. 鈥淲ithout him, these fire hazard warning placards are just signs that people may or may not notice. Smokey makes the message real. This is such an ideal spot for him to be, where people head into the mountains. Hopefully, he won鈥檛 disappear again.鈥�
Wentzel talked about the unusually active fire season in the region last fall.
鈥淭his was our busiest fall fire season in a long time,鈥� Wentzel said. 鈥淭he weather was extremely dry, but maybe Smokey鈥檚 disappearance was another reason for our high number of fires in the woods. Smokey wasn鈥檛 here to warn people about wildfires when we needed him most.鈥�
Wentzel then presented Safari with a stuffed toy Smokey Bear, and a Junior Forest Ranger badge, acknowledging her assistance.
鈥淗e is so cute. Thank you.鈥� Safari said.
Government is often detached and unresponsive. But the Pennsylvania Bureau of Forestry staff in the Forbes Forest District proves that sincere, caring people do important work in government every day. Every time my granddaughter crosses the mountain and sees Smokey Bear, she鈥檒l remember her part in placing him back where he belongs. I feel personally indebted to Cory Wentzel, Brody Halfhill, and Ryan O鈥橬eil for their gracious gesture toward a child. Thanks to them all for their personal touch in the line of duty, and for their consistent care of our irreplaceable forest resource.