PENNSYLVANIA LOOKOUTS
BIG BEAR SPRING
Luzerne County
August 3, 1960: "A 90-foot steel fire tower is being erected south of Dupont by Pennsylvania State Department of Forests and Waters. The new tower replaces Tark Hill Tower, which was dismantled because of preference of the Federal Aviation Administration for Tark Hill site as a VORTAC facility.
The new tower location is to be known as Bear Spring Tower. Relocation necessitated the construction of approximately one-half miles of access road to the tower, three-quarters of a mile of telephone line, erection of a cabin for Towerman Jim Reap and erection of the fire tower. This will be the key tower of Lackawanna District, of which M. M. Gordon is district forester and David A Roche is assistant district forester.
The tower, which is immediate responsibility of Fire Inspector Clarence Renfer, will give Towerman Reap excellent coverage of both valley and mountain areas. Result of the construction should be that fires can be spotted, located and reported with dispatch.
The towers are usually manned two months in the spring and two months in the fall.
At this tower, a forest fire danger station will also be maintained. Measurements of rainfall, wind, and fuel moisture will be taken to determine what is known in the forest fire protection program as 'burning index.' This index, comprised of these three factors, determines how fast a fire will burn and how serious it will be." (Wilkes-Barre Record)
The new tower location is to be known as Bear Spring Tower. Relocation necessitated the construction of approximately one-half miles of access road to the tower, three-quarters of a mile of telephone line, erection of a cabin for Towerman Jim Reap and erection of the fire tower. This will be the key tower of Lackawanna District, of which M. M. Gordon is district forester and David A Roche is assistant district forester.
The tower, which is immediate responsibility of Fire Inspector Clarence Renfer, will give Towerman Reap excellent coverage of both valley and mountain areas. Result of the construction should be that fires can be spotted, located and reported with dispatch.
The towers are usually manned two months in the spring and two months in the fall.
At this tower, a forest fire danger station will also be maintained. Measurements of rainfall, wind, and fuel moisture will be taken to determine what is known in the forest fire protection program as 'burning index.' This index, comprised of these three factors, determines how fast a fire will burn and how serious it will be." (Wilkes-Barre Record)
July 10, 1962: "Fire towers manned: The fire towers on Penobscot at Mountaintop, Harvey Tower, near Irem Country Club, Dallas, and Big Bear Spring Tower, near Dupont, are now being manned round-the-clock due to the dry spell. Fire towers usually are manned only in April and May and October and November." (Standard-Speaker)
July 10, 1962: "Fire towers manned: The fire towers on Penobscot at Mountaintop, Harvey Tower, near Irem Country Club, Dallas, and Big Bear Spring Tower, near Dupont, are now being manned round-the-clock due to the dry spell. Fire towers usually are manned only in April and May and October and November." (Standard-Speaker)