This is a list of notable fire lookout towers and stations, including complexes of associated buildings and structures. This includes lookout cabins without towers which are perched high and do not require further elevation to serve for their purpose, and also includes notable lookout trees.

There once were more than 10,000 fire lookout persons[1] staffing more than 5,000 of fire lookout towers or fire lookout stations in the United States alone.[2] Now there are far fewer of both. Also there are a number of fire lookout trees. The U.S. state of Wisconsin decided to close its last 72 operating fire lookout towers in 2016.[3] Despite newer methods like aerial surveillance and cell phones, the U.S. state of Pennsylvania returned its use of fire lookout towers in 2017.[4]

Australia

See Category:Fire lookout towers in Australia

Fire stations with lookout towers:

and a number of other fire stations in Australia

Towers alone:

Fire lookout trees:

Canada

Romania

United Kingdom

United States

The National Historic Lookout Register lists most historic, surviving fire towers in the United States. Many of these are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the Forest Fire Lookout Association.

Arizona

Lookout trees

Arkansas

California

Some are related to the Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association. California had a total of 625 fire lookout sites, of those there are 198 remaining lookout towers, and of those there are around 50 staffed. There are 11 lookouts that may be rented in California. Fire Lookouts not only watch for fire, they also record weather conditions and observe animals in some cases.

Lookout Rentals

Colorado

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Louisiana

Main article: List of fire lookout towers in Louisiana

Massachusetts

Michigan

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

New Hampshire

The number of towers has varied over time, and aerial monitoring is also used.[6] The following locations have fire towers as of 2020:[7]

New Jersey

See List of New Jersey Forest Fire Service fire towers

New Mexico

New York

A number of fire lookout tower stations, including many in New York State near the Adirondack Forest Preserve and Catskill Park, have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[8][9] They include:

Adirondack Park
Catskill Park
other

North Carolina

Oregon

Pennsylvania

South Dakota

not in category

Tennessee

Utah

Vermont

not in category

Washington

There are currently 93 lookouts in Washington State.

Alpine Lakes Wilderness
Central North Cascades
Central Olympic Mountains
Chelan Mountains
Columbia Gorge North
Columbia-Yakima Hills
Entiat Mountains
Glacier Peak-North Stevens Pass Area
Goat Rocks
Hozameen Range
Kettle River Range
Kitsap Peninsula
Methow Mountains
Mount Adams Area
Mount Rainier Area
Mountain Loop Area
North-Central Olympic Mountains
Northern Blue Mountains
Northwest Olympics
Okanogan Range
Priest Lake Selkirks
San Juan Islands
Skagit Range
South Cascade Crest
South Okanogan Highlands
Southwest Selkirks
Wenatchee Mountains
Not in Category
lookout trees

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

See also

References

  1. ^ Rory Carroll (August 30, 2016). "'Freaks on the peaks': the lonely lives of the last remaining forest fire lookouts". The Guardian.
  2. ^ Peter L. Steere (July 1987). "National Forest Fire Lookouts in the Southwestern Region. USDA Forest Service". Zimmermann (1969:5-6) reported that the Forest Service and State Forestry Departments had constructed a total of 5,060 lookout towers by 1953. He noted a steady decrease since that time. His 1967 count indicated that of the towers recorded in 1953 thirty percent were gone. This was partially due to the increased reliance by the Forest Service on aerial patrols for detection. Note the PDF file includes also December 5, 1990 document by Teri A. Cleeland.
  3. ^ Lee Bergquist (December 17, 2015). "End of an era: State to end use of its 72 forest fire towers". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
  4. ^ Youker, Youker (2016-12-23). "Pennsylvania Reintroduces Fire Towers". AMC Outdoors. Archived from the original on 2017-02-24.
  5. ^ "Knob Lick Towersite". Missouri Department of Conservation. Retrieved 2021-09-01.
  6. ^ NH Fire Lookout Towers - A Short History (1992)
  7. ^ Tower Quest Tri-fold Brochure, 2020
  8. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  9. ^ Fire Observation Stations of New York State Forest Preserve MPS
  10. ^ "Fire Towers of Northern Minnesota (brochure)" (PDF). Forest Fire Lookout Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
  11. ^ "Lookout Tree" (PDF). Fire Lookouts of the Darrington Area. Darrington Area Business Association. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2011. Retrieved 24 July 2012.
Categories