LAKEWOOD, Wash. — An effort to create Washington’s first-ever “Smokey Bear” license plate will launch on Monday.
Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz will be joined by local leaders and firefighters at West Pierce Fire & Rescue Station 20 in Lakewood to announce the plan.
The first step is a signature campaign for legislation to establish the plate.
A petition with 3,500 collected signatures is required before the Department of Licensing can consider a plate series.
The goals of the plate include:
- Allow people to show support for firefighters.
- Support efforts to lower the number of wildfires caused by humans.
- Generate revenue that will go toward wildfire suppression efforts.
- Raise public awareness of wildfire prevention.