Buck Rock Lookout

Buck Rock Lookout. A Continuing Legacy of Meeting the Nation's Needs. , The Birth of Lookouts , From the days of the old west, through the trials of World War II, to our current high-tech world, the story of the fire lookout is laced with history, heroics and romance. The history of fire lookouts in California begins in 1876 when the Southern Pacific Railroad built a lookout on Red Mountain near Donner Summit to watch for train fires. , In 1905 our nation's forest reserves were organized into the USDA Forest Service. Chief Forester Gifford Pinchot realized that early detection of fires was crucial in protecting valuable timber resources. What better place than the top of a mountain to quickly spot a fire? , The Beginning of Buck Rock Lookout , Buck Rock Lookout offers breathtaking views of the Great Western Divide and other spectacular Sierra Nevada peaks. The original lookout at Buck Rock, in use as early as 1908, was an open platform perched atop this granite dome. A fire patrol would climb a long, slim tree trunk with boards nailed across for steps. Once on the platform, he would scan for smoke using binoculars, a compass and a map. Spotting a smoke, the patrol would quickly descend from his perch, hop on his horse and race to put the fire out. , A House for a Lookout , In 1914 the concept of building a lookout where the fire watcher could work and live was introduced. The first "live-in" lookout , called a "4-A" style cab , was a 14 ft. x 14 ft. room surrounded on all sides by windows. Buck Rock Lookout, constructed in 1923, is one of only three 4-A cabs still existing. , A series of ladders made of timber poles snaked along the rock, providing the fire watcher with a precarious climb to the cab. Access was finally made easier in 1942, when the stairway you see today was installed. , Service to the Nation , World War II sparked two new developments in the history of fire lookouts. First, the Army Air Forces mobilized the Aircraft Warning Service and used fire lookouts as enemy aircraft observation posts. Second, women joined the Forest Service work force, beginning a long tradition of women staffing fire lookouts. , Still An Important Fire-Fighting Tool , During the height of the lookout era over 8,000 fire lookouts dotted the nation's countryside. Less than 1,000 remain today. With its unparalleled 360-degree view and important communications location, Buck Rock is one of the few that continues to be staffed by the Forest Service. Once considered the most important tool for the detection of wild fires, lookouts all but faded into obscurity. This tale may have a happy ending, however, as enthusiasts nation-wide are rallying to protect this symbol of our conservation heritage.