California once maintained one of the largest networks of fire lookouts in the United States, with hundreds of towers built across the state’s mountains and forests during the early and mid-20th century. Many were constructed and operated by the United States Forest Service, along with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection and the National Park Service. Perched on prominent summits from the Sierra Nevada and Cascades to the Coast Ranges and Southern California mountains, lookout observers scanned the horizon for smoke and relayed fire reports by telephone or radio. Although aircraft, satellites, and remote cameras now perform much of this work, dozens of historic lookouts still stand today, some remaining staffed during fire season while others serve as preserved landmarks or scenic viewpoints that reflect California’s long history of wildfire detection.

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