05/31/2026
Today we celebrate the Fire Tower Lookout Observers.
All fires start small. It is much easier and cost effective to extinguish a small fire than a large fire. It is important to detect the fire when it is still small.
The Lookout Observers spend their fire season in a tower high above the trees, where they can detect the column of smoke when it is small, pass on the information they see, to the fire centre which dispatches crews to start firefighting, with the hope of quickly extinguishing the wildfire.
The role requires a sharp eye, attention to detail, and a great deal of patience. Tower personnel detect fires, relay messages, they are the first eyes on incoming storms or lightning strikes, they maintain the site, have radio check ins, record weather and are often up for a visit when the hazard is low.
The tower may be remote, and groceries arrive once a month by helicopter, or it may be easily accessible, and have hundreds of visitors each year. Each tower is different, but every one is important to help detect wildfires.
Thank you to all the lookout tower personnel, your work is an important part of the wildfire efforts.
Watch wildfire videos at Wildfire HQ on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/
Purchase Wildfire HQ hoodies here: https://fireground.ca/shop/brands/wildfire-hq/true-north-wildland-hoodie/
