Vetter Mountain Fire Lookout

Vetter Mountain Fire Lookout. . , Welcome to the Vetter Mountain Fire Lookout Tower in the Angeles National Forest. As you can see from the spectacular vistas, Vetter Mountain is an ideal location for a fire lookout. , The Vetter Mountain Lookout was constructed in 1937 and remained in continuous operation by the U.S. Forest Service until 1981. After a period of vacancy, a group of dedicated citizens, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service, rebuilt, restored, and returned the tower to service in 1998. The tower was operated by the Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service until it was destroyed by the Station Fire in 2009. , Vetter Lookout was near and dear to many, and there were constant efforts and demand over the years to try to rebuild it. However, the results continuously fell short. In 2020, through a partnership with Southern California Edison, Vetter Lookout was finally rebuilt, and it was designed to be consistent with the siting, structure, and appearance of the original 1930s-era structure. , The rebuilt lookout tower honors the legacy and historical contribution of the men and women who have contributed to wildfire identification and forest management in the Angeles National Forest. , What is a Fire Lookout Tower? , A fire lookout tower provides housing and a secure base for a person known as a "fire lookout" to visually search for wildfires and provide prompt notification of fires to fire fighters. Although lookout towers have gradually diminished over time, this lookout tower continues to be active, and it is staffed by a dedicated group of volunteers who keep a watchful eye on our Forest. , Fun Facts , Location: San Gabriel Mountains, Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County. , Summit Elevation: 5,911 feet above mean sea level. , Vetter Mountain was named after Victor P. Vetter, a dedicated forest ranger and fire dispatcher. Vetter won the U.S. Forest Service Bissell Medal in 1930 for outstanding work in forest conservation. , On the Lookout , Ramona Merwin was the last U.S. Forest Service fire lookout at Vetter Mountain. She worked at the lookout tower from 1955 until 1981, when the Forest Service closed the lookout. Ramona worked with her husband, Art, in the late 1930s and early 1940s in other southern California fire lookouts. , A few years after Art's death in 1952, Ramona was offered the Vetter fire lookout job. She worked and raised her children at the lookout. , After the Lookout was closed in 1981, Ramona stayed on the Angeles National Forest and went to work as a receptionist in what was then known as the Los Angeles River Ranger District Office until she retired in 1984. , panel 2: , Southern California Edison and the U.S. Forest Service - Working Together , To carry renewable energy from the Tehachapi Wind Resource Area south to Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, Southern California Edison constructed the Tehachapi Renewable Transmission Project (TRTP). This included installation of over 170 miles of high-voltage overhead transmission lines, which traverse the Angeles National Forest in two segments. , Southern California Edison worked closely with the U.S. Forest Service during TRTP planning and implementation to minimize environmental resource impacts on the Angeles National Forest and provide restoration where needed. These efforts included rebuilding the Vetter Mountain Fire Lookout, which was destroyed by the Station Fire in 2009. , panel 3 - located one mile from summit: , The Road to Vetter Mountain , You are hiking towards the historic Vetter Mountain Fire Lookout, where you will enjoy a 360-degree view over the central area of the San Gabriel Mountains. The route to the top is 1.1 miles, with an elevation gain of 370 feet [note: this marker is located half way between the highway and the lookout]. Upon arriving at the lookout on a clear day, you will be rewarded with fantastic views, which include: , . To the North - Pacifico Mountain and Mount Hillyer. , . To the East - Mount Baldy. , . To the South - Mount Wilson, the Los Angeles Basin, and the Pacific Ocean. , . To the West - Upper Big Tujunga Canyon. , , Hiking Safety: Know Before You Go! , Unexpected things happen in the outdoors. Here are several things to consider before you begin your hike: , 1. Make sure you know the route. , 2. Know your physical capabilities. , 3. Dress in proper shoes and wear clothes appropriate to today’s weather conditions. , 4. Don't hike alone. , 5. Let someone else know where you are going. , 6. Bring a first aid kit with you. , 7. Always bring water with you. , 8. Remember other safety items: food, sunglasses, a pocket knife, insect repellant, first aid kit, flashlight, extra clothing.