Working in a fire lookout tower attracts “a certain type of person” who is very self-reliant and comfortable with being alone, according to Duncan MacDonnell, public affairs officer for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.

The job entails providing “early detection and accurate reporting of all potential smoke and wildfires” within the visible area of about a 40-km radius, as well as reporting weather conditions and acting as a communications relay.

A typical day for observers begins at 7:30 a.m. when they report the weather and ends around 7 p.m. with their final check-in, MacDonnell said, though the schedule varies. “If there’s a fire raging in the area they may be required to start a little earlier and end a little later,” he said. “They generally work during daylight hours.”

Conversely, when it rains or when the hazard level is low, more time can be spent down on the ground. Lookouts stay at their towers for the duration of their work term, which can range from two months to six. They climb the tower to observe and spend the rest of their time in a house below or nearby.?

Excellent physical and mental health is required for observers because they must be able to climb the tower several times a day and live by themselves. “They can have spouses, companions, children, friends and pets stay with them, as long as they’re in good physical and mental health as well,” MacDonnell said. “Most observers are solitary, quite often they have dogs.”

Observers man 128 towers in forested areas throughout the province which vary in proximity to civilization. “Many are only fly-in, there are some that have roads in and are fairly close to communities,” MacDonnell said. “Some get about 10,000 visitors a year.” Supplies are delivered periodically, as infrequently as every couple of weeks for those in remote areas.

The rules are strict. Lookouts must report to a supervisor at least three times a day and to a partner in another tower before climbing or descending the tower. They must also wear a harness when they go up and down.? A supervisor’s permission is required for lookouts to leave their site, whether it’s for a doctor’s appointment or a walk when the fire risk is low.?

Policies and training were reviewed and updated in 2007, the major changes including gates installed on roads to the towers and extra lighting provided, and it was made mandatory that observers carry hand-held radios. A six-day training course prepares observers before they take a tower post, which includes lessons on safety and first aid. “Additional training is conducted on site, such as site-specific protocols,” MacDonnell said.?

Fire lookout towers have been used in some form for the better part of the last century. Though the concept is old, it’s still the most effective, according to MacDonnell. “I remember reading something a little while ago about automated detection, but the human eye is the best way to spot a fire,” he said.