Fir Mountain Fire Lookout Site

In 1922, a 12 x 12 foot cabin was built in the fall by ranger labor, L.B.P.

In 1928, the lookout was Richard Hunner. In July, his cousin Darrow Thompson spent a week with him at the cabin. The cabin also had work done that summer by Lloyd L. Hougland.

On October 31, 1930, the panoramic images were taken

On July 22, 1932, the Republic News-Miner said: "Work will also be begun immediately to reconstruct the building on Fir Mountain.”

In 1936, Earl Robertson was the lookout. He started near the end of June.

In 1937, in September, a newspaper shared a story about the lookout Earl Robertson: “It seems that Earl looked at the clock one morning, saw it was time to call in, so gave the generator a crank. The crank tried to run away with him, spelling just one thing--Telephone trouble. After making a few checks, he decided he had a broken ground, so grabbing up pliers, connectors and an axe he started out over the ground. Earl had proceeded about a third of a mile when, lo and behold, what should he see but a yearling deer tangled in the ground wire and the wire broken a short distance beyond. Not having a telephone manual to tell him what to do, but being a resourceful chap, and having read somewhere how cowboys bulldogged steers, Earl set to untangle the mess. Then did Earl's education begin to broaden. First, he learned that he should have brought along an armored suit. Secondly, he learned that bulldogging a steer and a deer are two different things. To make a short story longer, Earl finally got the deer free from the wire, after much deer walking on and striking Earl and some Earl walking on deer. It was a simple matter then to make the required splice. When all was done to his satisfaction Earl slowly walked back to his station and the iodine bottle, thinking of the ingratitude of things in general and one yearling deer in particular.

From 1950 to 1952, Joe Hills was the lookout.
In 1953, Alvin Schertenleid was the lookout.
In 1954, Ted Gurr was the lookout.
In 1955, Cal Bedient was the lookout.
In 1956, Cary Winschell was the lookout.
In 1958 the lookout was destroyed.

April 1923: "Ranger Hougland has fixed up a stand for the K.P. Cecil fire finder which will allow a two-way shift. A track was made for the fire finder running north and south, and another track made running east and west. The fire finder is attached by lugs to the upper track, which is attached to a wooden block. Lower track is fastened to the top of the table or stand. Lugs on each side of the lower track are attached to this wooden block. This will enable one to shift the fire finder to miss any obstructions. There is no play in the fire finder. This finder will be installed on Fir Mountain where a cabin was built last fall by ranger labor. L.B.P." (Six Twenty-Six)

Fir Mountain Lookout Site