On the Watchtower: A History of Fire Lookouts

Approximately five hundred fire lookouts remain active throughout the United States. The majority of these lookouts are located west of the Mississippi River, but East Coast states continue to staff fire lookouts as well. The states of Montana, Idaho, Washington, Oregon, California, Arizona and New Mexico staff the majority of the lookout stations still in service. The earliest fire lookouts were posted in the 1870s overlooking mining camps throughout the West. The states of Idaho and Maine established the first unofficial fire lookout stations in 1902 and the practice spread across the country. The Civilian Conservation Corps built many of the early lookouts and it has been estimated that between eight and ten thousand of these sites were established throughout the country. The 1950s was the peak decade for working lookouts. The number began to steadily decline in the 1960s and 1970s when most lookouts were replaced with aerial detection.

The decommissioned lookouts were sold, demolished, burned, buried or left abandoned on their mountain peaks. A few of these lookouts became tourist attractions and serve as exhibits at museums and amusement parks while others were converted into interpretive sites, visitor centers and popular rentals booked a year in advance. The future of fire lookouts is uncertain. In recent years, lookouts have been lost to wildfire and budget cuts, and the growing use of cameras and modern technology have also contributed. But for now, the five hundred fire lookouts left in service remain the most accurate and timely method of fire detection.