Life in a Fire Tower

Life in a Fire Tower. . , Beginning in the early 1900s, fire towers were built across the nation to protect the forest resources from uncontrolled wildland fire., These towers were manned by rugged individuals who spent their days alone searching the horizon with binoculars for “starts.” When a “smoke” was seen, coordinates were taken using an azimuth (a devise that determines a compass bearing), and the fire lookout sounded the alarm, originally by a hand-cranked phone and later by short-wave radio. Although the philosophy of wildland fire management has changed significantly in the 100 years since fire towers were first built, they continue to be staffed in Yellowstone today., In late June, after snows melt enough to allow access, lone individuals or “lookouts” move into Yellowstone’s fire towers for the summer/fall fire season. The lookout stays the entire season with no days off and is re-supplied with food, water, and fuel (if necessary) every two weeks. Limited electricity at Mt. Washburn supports extensive telecommunications equipment and provides the luxury of electric heat and appliances. At the other park fire towers, propane fuels a small refrigerator and cook stove, and a wood stove is used for heating. Leisure time is spent reading, writing, and listening to the radio. By October, the first snowstorms have dusted the trees, the fire tower can be shuttered and locked for winter, and the lookout descends the mountain to resume a more typical existence at lower elevations., Since the 1970s, most towers across the United States have been abandoned and replaced by aircraft, which can monitor larger areas more cheaply. However, three fire lookout towers are still staffed in Yellowstone – this tower on Mt. Washburn, one on Mt. Holmes (located to the west), and a tower on Mt. Sheridan (located to the south). A fourth tower on Pelican Cone (located to the southeast) is staffed when the fire danger is high in the Pelican Valley area.