If, on a hot, dry day, a fire were to break out within a 300,000-acre patch of northwest Montana, there’s a high probability that Leif Haugen would be the first person to spot it. Haugen, a 52-year-old fire lookout, has spent over half of his life scanning the larch and pine wilderness from his mountaintop cabin. Once a part of a large group of fire watchers stationed across hilltops, lookout towers are now dwindling in numbers as land managers turn to technology for fire detection.
According to Randy Moore, the chief of the US Forest Service, the future of fire detection lies in cameras rather than humans. While technological advancements are assisting in detecting fires, advocates argue that human lookouts offer more than just the ability to spot smoke. Lookouts like Haugen relay messages between dispatchers and firefighters, track local weather conditions, and serve as safety watches for crews on the ground.
Despite the decline in numbers, the lookout holds several advantages over technology. Human lookouts can detect fires quicker and catch them when they’re smaller and easier to extinguish. Satellites, used by NASA and the Forest Service, have limitations and must maintain large intervals between scans, while weather satellites can’t always distinguish a small blaze from a hot rock.
Cameras and artificial intelligence are being used to supplement conventional fire-monitoring methods, such as staffed lookouts. The Douglas Forest Protective Association in Oregon has replaced manned lookouts with a camera system and now employs six individuals to monitor feeds throughout the day. New satellite-based systems are also being developed to improve early warning capabilities.
By spotting fires earlier, new detection projects could improve scientific models and assist officials in planning evacuation strategies and land management techniques. Despite the push towards technology, many still recognize the value that human lookouts bring to the table. As of now, lookouts like Haugen continue to provide invaluable support to fire managers, firefighters, and fellow lookouts in the ongoing fight against wildfires.
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