MICHIGAN LOOKOUTS
GENERAL & MISC. INFORMATION
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1929-30: "As in the past the Forest Fire Division has relied upon a tower system of detecting forest fires. Considering the accuracy of location and the costs involved, it is the belief of this division that the system should be continued without change.
Little change was made in the tower system in 1930 and although the program is considered complete there are a number of towers which will be moved to more advantageous locations during the fall of 1930, and at least three new towers will be built this fall in order that more intensified protect can be had for certain areas.
The tower system consists of primary towers (closed type) which are manned regularly throughout the fire season and secondary towers (open type) which are manned only in extreme emergency periods.
Primary -- (Closed towers in new locations 1929 - 3 1930 - 1
Towers -- (Existing closed towers moved to new locations 1929 - 2 1930 - 9
Secondary -- (Open towers constructed 1929 - 2 1930 - 4
Towers
Each primary tower is equipped with a sighting instrument (alidade), a telephone and a map of the surrounding country mounted and oriented on top of a map box. On seeing a smoke the towerman sights it through his alidade and calls whichever tower is closest to the smoke. By an exchange of their protractor readings the towerman can usually locate the fire by means of intersection to the nearest forty. After the location has been determined the towerman calls the proper unit of the fire organization.
At this time (October 1930) there are 151 fire towers in the state.
(Primary towers (closed) 111
Forest Fire Division (Secondary towers (open) 19
State Forest Towers (Primary towers (closed) 3
(Primary towers (open) 16
State Game Refuge Towers (open) 2
Many of the division's fire towers are located in isolated places where existing telephone companies do not operate. In such cases telephone lines have been built to the nearest privately owned telephone line. To insure maximum efficiency for a fire tower, the telephone must be nearly perfect and in some cases where the tower is connected to an overloaded party line it has been necessary to construct a separate telephone line to insure uninterrupted service." (5th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
Little change was made in the tower system in 1930 and although the program is considered complete there are a number of towers which will be moved to more advantageous locations during the fall of 1930, and at least three new towers will be built this fall in order that more intensified protect can be had for certain areas.
The tower system consists of primary towers (closed type) which are manned regularly throughout the fire season and secondary towers (open type) which are manned only in extreme emergency periods.
Primary -- (Closed towers in new locations 1929 - 3 1930 - 1
Towers -- (Existing closed towers moved to new locations 1929 - 2 1930 - 9
Secondary -- (Open towers constructed 1929 - 2 1930 - 4
Towers
Each primary tower is equipped with a sighting instrument (alidade), a telephone and a map of the surrounding country mounted and oriented on top of a map box. On seeing a smoke the towerman sights it through his alidade and calls whichever tower is closest to the smoke. By an exchange of their protractor readings the towerman can usually locate the fire by means of intersection to the nearest forty. After the location has been determined the towerman calls the proper unit of the fire organization.
At this time (October 1930) there are 151 fire towers in the state.
(Primary towers (closed) 111
Forest Fire Division (Secondary towers (open) 19
State Forest Towers (Primary towers (closed) 3
(Primary towers (open) 16
State Game Refuge Towers (open) 2
Many of the division's fire towers are located in isolated places where existing telephone companies do not operate. In such cases telephone lines have been built to the nearest privately owned telephone line. To insure maximum efficiency for a fire tower, the telephone must be nearly perfect and in some cases where the tower is connected to an overloaded party line it has been necessary to construct a separate telephone line to insure uninterrupted service." (5th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
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1931-32: "In order to facilitate protective measures and to unite the various detection organizations, all towers and tower telephone systems are now supervised by this division, thus making for efficiency and placing responsibility in the organization which has direct supervision over the fire suppression forces.
The majority of the 60 foot 'open' towers, poorly located for cross-shots with the newer primary towers, are now being relocated and replaced with 102 foot standard lookout towers as rapidly as funds become available. This construction work is carried on by the regular fire wardens and towermen during low hazard periods." (6th Biennial Report, Department of Conservation)
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1933-34: "During the past two seasons sixteen new towers have been erected. Fifteen of these are of the new 100 foot stairway type with handrailings and steel sash windows. Few of the old 60 foot open towers are now in use and those remaining are used for emergency periods during high hazard, poor visibility conditions.
Five of these new towers overlook important areas of the Black Lake, Ogemaw, Higgins Lake, Houghton Lake, and the Lake Superior State Forests. The other eleven aid in the protection of private and unadministered state owned lands.
The increase in number of visitors at the new towers, due to the ease of ascent, is very noticeable. An increase in visitors means an increase in the dissemination of 'forest fire propaganda'; a very desirable feature in our prevention program.
Seven additional towers will be erected late this season to take care of 'blind spots' in the detection system. There is still need for more towers along the Michigan-Wisconsin state line to facilitate the location and the reporting of fires along the boundary.
Additional towers decrease the area which must be covered by any one tower, thus eliminating 'blind spots' and decreasing the possibility of a fire burning for any considerable period of time without detection.
In addition to the construction of the fire towers, new telephone lines were built to tie in these towers with existing communication systems, or to a suitable. Many of the old lines were rebuilt and relocated in order to give better service and facilitate maintenance. Approximately 300 miles of new lines were constructed during the past two seasons through state and cooperative agencies." (7th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
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1935-36: "Thirty-one fire towers and 15 towermen's cabins have been built." (8th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
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1937-38: "Cooperating in the expansion and improvement of the Forest Fire Division's detection system, the CCC has built eight new fire towers and structurally repaired 63 of the present towers. The new towers are the Alger, Deward, Presque Isle South, Floodwood, Walsh, Barton, K.B., and Silver Lake towers. Lightning protection has been installed on 34 of the towers by CCC workers." (9th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
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1939-40: "8 new fire towers have been erected extending the detection system of the Department to cover new wilderness areas." (10th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
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1943-44: "Tower cabins of the portable type were constructed from the salvaged material and placed at Elm River, Covington, Buck Hill, and East Towers.
For the purpose of better fire detection, the following towers have been re-located: Amasa Tower to Fence Lake in Baraga County; Tolfree Tower in Ogemaw County moved north to more adequately cover young plantations in Ogemaw Forest. The wooden tower near the Alpena Airport was dismantled. A 55-foot converted tower was erected in the Yankee Springs area." (12th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
For the purpose of better fire detection, the following towers have been re-located: Amasa Tower to Fence Lake in Baraga County; Tolfree Tower in Ogemaw County moved north to more adequately cover young plantations in Ogemaw Forest. The wooden tower near the Alpena Airport was dismantled. A 55-foot converted tower was erected in the Yankee Springs area." (12th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
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1947-48: "Tower cabins have been completed at Otter Lake, East and Turin Towers." (14th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
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1949-50: "Twenty-six tower mapboard boxes were constructed with the cooperation of the Branch Prison at Marquette in 1949. These were placed in the spring of that year and are a decided improvement." (15th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
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1951-52: "A program of elimination of about one-half the lookout cabins was inaugurated and is proceeding. Lookout personnel formerly housed at the towers are being stationed in communities near the towers and at conservation stations where other personnel live. This will improve the work program on days of low fire hazard.
Access roads have been constructed to many of the towers during the biennium." (16th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
Access roads have been constructed to many of the towers during the biennium." (16th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
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1953-54: "The turnover in lookouts is still high but much improved over previous years.
New map boxes and fire finders have been placed in all Upper Peninsula lookout towers. Similar improvements are being placed in Lower Peninsula towers." (17th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
New map boxes and fire finders have been placed in all Upper Peninsula lookout towers. Similar improvements are being placed in Lower Peninsula towers." (17th Biennial Report, The Department of Conservation)
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