FOREST FIRE LOOKOUTS
IN THE AMERICAN WEST!
The Idaho Panhandle National Forest
There was a time when Forest Fire Lookouts in the forests of the American West were used as a primary source of information about fires. Often they were located on the highest peaks of the mountains. There was a phone line running to the top of each tower which was connected to a headquarters somewhere in a nearby small town.
from Deer Ridge Lookout
During lightning storms, a tower operator would stay hunkered down in the tower to keep from being hit by lightning. Often heavy rain would accompany the storms.
from Deer Ridge Lookout
Because the West is usually dry in the Summer, lightning ignites many fires as do careless campers and other humans. The towers would operate with triangulation devices which would allow an operator to give specific compass bearing on a fire. They would be coordinated with other lookout towers and a crossing of the bearings indicated the location of fires. The proper term for this action is "triangulation!"
from Deer Ridge Lookout
In some parts of the West, Smoke-jumpers would parachute out of airplanes with shovels and other tools and locate and put out the lightning cause spot fires. Missoula, Montana was a major Smoke-jumper base for the Northern Rockies. The system worked well for many decades. With the advent and use of airplanes to spot fires, not to mention satellites, the need for the fire lookouts decreased.
through the cross beams
of Deer Ridge Lookout
There are still towers in operation. In the Cleveland National Forest of Southern California, the Palomar Mountain Lookout (High Point) is still staffed by volunteers. The blogger knows them personally. Nearby Boucher Hill Lookout in Palomar Mountain State Park is staffed likewise. There are others. But for the most part, the towers have been taken down, or blown down. In the Case of the Roman-Nose Tower in the Idaho Panhandle National Forest of Idaho, the tower simply blew over in a huge windstorm. It had not been maintained for years and it may be that the wires holding it had deteriorated or broken. Regardless, this magnificent tower is no more.
One day, some enterprising Forest Service Employee suggested a new use for the towers! Maintain them, keep them operational and rent them out to TOURISTS for overnight stays! That has proven successful and as a result there are many towers still around!
A Walk around the Catwalk of Deer Ridge Lookout is posted to my U Tube Channel and can be viewed here (copy and paste):
So anyone who wants the experience can reserve a night or more stay at these towers. It is an unforgettable experience!
Posted by
Harald Hesstvedt Scharnhorst
Photographs by the Blogger
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