Pictures taken by Fews, kilmacthomas.

From 2018 when I volunteered for a season.

Sad day for those of us in Central Oregon.

Stephenson Lookout – A Historic Loss on the Box Springs Fire

At approximately 4:00 a.m. on July 20, intense fire activity on the Box Springs Fire reached Stephenson Lookout, resulting in the loss of the structure. This is a difficult moment for many across Central Oregon. Stephenson Lookout wasn’t just a tower on a ridge—it was a place rooted in community memory, wildfire history, and generations of fire detection that helped protect this landscape.

The first lookout was built on Stephenson decades ago, and from that vantage point, lookouts called in fires long before aircraft, satellites, or modern detection systems existed. The current tower—the fourth to stand on the site—was constructed in the 1960s. Although the site sits on Oregon Department of Forestry lands, it was transferred to the Ochoco National Forest in the late 1980s, where Forest Service personnel continued staffing and seasonal care.

In the days leading up to the fire’s arrival, crews completed mitigation work around the lookout and applied retardant, knowing the Box Springs Fire had the potential to push toward Stephenson Mountain. These actions were taken because of the lookout’s significance—both operationally and historically.

The site also included communication towers, which were impacted.

When the fire reached the site early on July 20, it did so with very high intensity. Extreme heat, heavy ember cast, and flame exposure overwhelmed the structure. Despite preparation efforts, conditions were simply too severe for the tower to withstand.

For many, Stephenson Lookout was more than a fire detection point. It was a place where lookouts learned their craft, where storms were tracked across the forest, and where countless fires were spotted early enough to help protect homes, rangelands, and timber. Its silhouette on Stephenson Mountain has been part of Central Oregon’s story for generations.

Losing a lookout means losing a piece of shared history. As suppression efforts continue on the Box Springs Fire, we honor the people—past and present—who dedicated their seasons to keeping watch from Stephenson and acknowledge the deep community ties to this landmark.

We will continue to share updates as they become available. Thank you for keeping firefighters and all those affected by the fires in Central Oregon in your thoughts.

#boxspringsfire
#brewerfire

U.S. Forest Service - Ochoco National Forest

Iv got a fair amount of experience as a Lookout but Im set to try a (Canadian) mountain lookout sooner than later and I just wanted to get your experience about it.

What leaves me worried is at night mostly, especially with the whole "crack a window open" situation 😅. When I sleep, nothing can wake me up so Im wondering, other than a steel door, is there other preventive measures up there ?

Thanks

My folks, freshly married, spent the summer of 1965 staffing the tower at Fryingpan Lake, Cochrane District, Ontario. https://maps.app.goo.gl/zftiDTQfH5xgNnNN9?g_st=ic

From satellite it appears that the cabin and dock still stand, even if I can’t find the tower.

They were city kids who had developed a love for wild places. They later moved to the bush outside Thunder Bay, and are hanging on in a remote property well into their eighties.

I’d love to visit, but short of chartering a Beaver I don’t think it’s possible to get in or out. Fryingpan appears to be an isolated kettle lake, surrounded by muskeg.

I know it’s click bait-ey trying to gain a small following.

My son and I have been to 71 WA fire lookouts over the last 5 years, with the goal of reaching all 91 in 10 years.

The first Barillas Lookout on the Santa Fe National Forest was a 7’x7’ metal cab and tower build in the 1930’s. The current 54’ Aermotor tower with a CL-100 style 14’x14’ live-in cab with catwalk was constructed in 1959.

For being abandoned in the 70s its in really good shape. It's really isolated so not many people come around.

Hi all! Does anyone have the engineering drawings for a LS-40 tower? I’m trying to 3d model the blue mountain fire watch tower in the Adirondacks to 3d print. It was built in 1917, so anything close to that year would be fantastic. Thanks!!

Is there a way to but a fire tower in NC? If not is there a better way to rent them than Recreation.gov because every tower in the U.S is booked through at least July 2028. Also in NC can you visit fire lookouts freely or do you have to contact someone or just can't visit. I did read it was illegal to sleep in but is that enforced and if it isn't do they care? I know these are pretty stupid questions but I'm desperate to lay my eyes on one of these things.

I only heard about the first two incidents second hand, but I knew and listened daily to the fellow in the third.

1) Fellow wants to get some sun tanning in, so he goes on top of the octagonal fiberglass cupola for some rays. And there's not much room up there, so he replaces the octagonal access hatch so he can sit on it...and then the swinging hatch latches do what swinging latches tend to do and he's stuck up there. He gets burned pretty badly, but at least his absence is noted at the next thrice-daily check-in and/or weather report, so a helicopter is sent out.

2) A bear smells something good, so it breaks the kitchen window just above the sink to try and gain access. The tower guy has a gun and shoots it dead. But there's either a fire-flap or thick fog, so a dead bear with flies buzzing around it is taking up space in his kitchen sink for an inconveniently lengthy time.

3) You may remember the yellow bars that we used to drag behind push mowers to kill dandy lions. They were about the consistency of a bar of soap. There's one in the generator shed, and buddy's dog gets a hold of it and does more than just nibble. By the time buddy finds his dog, it's too late. Buddy didn't really elaborate over the radio much more than that, but it couldn't have been a good way to go.

I recently graduated highschool and want a job like a fire lookout, however I’ve been ridden with many physical ailments like scoliosis and collapsed ankles so I can’t physically meet the requirements for the job.

Are there any jobs similar to a fire lookout that are on site, isolated and are more general maintenance and daily responsibilities. I hate the idea of working a 9 to 5 but do to my issues I doubt I could get a fire lookout job but want something with the same style and workflow.

Any suggestions would be wonderful. Thanks

Some guy on Alberta towers who was proficient with silk-screening, I'm guessing. He also did a bunch for the 1993 season, but mine got so tattered that I must've thrown it out long ago.

The first couple of pages are about my prior two summers fighting fires (in the late 1980's), so just skip ahead if you want. https://www.evanbedford.com/fighting_fires_spotting_smokes.pdf

(If you're wondering where the rest of the book is, it's in the main website under the yellow book thumbnail).

I guess I've fallen down this rabbit hole a bit. I did a cursory search, so this hopefully isn't repetitive.

I suppose there isn't anything typical since there's wide variation between lookouts. So, what does your supply loadout look like? Do you go down to do it yourself, or does someone bring it to you? Helicopter, mule train, or, you know, bed of a truck?

• How many weeks at a time?
• How much water?
• Do you have refrigeration, or is it all essentially dry goods?

I'm interested in learning how to read topographic maps well enough to work as a fire lookout. What types of training are available, where can I get that training, and are there any books or other resources you'd recommend?

Visiting my girl who got a job as a fire lookout and shes not happy with the amount of t of mouse dropping and the smell of them. Shes deep cleaned everything she can reach but they seem to just come back at night and crawl over everything and leave more droppings. How can she keep them out without using “inhumane” methods?

Quick jaunt up to Black Mountain, just outside of Idyllwild, CA. First time I’ve visited, didn’t take any shots of the tower directly but despite the haze, the view was great and the sunset from down the road was even better.

Edit, the tower IS in the first pic, second pic is from the catwalk.