3 months ago
PILOT HILL (EL DORADO COUNTY), CA - Despite advances in technology, firefighters say the best way to get an early jump on a wildfire is with a set of human eyes in a lookout tower.
"It's very low-tech, but a very accurate way of detecting fires," said Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Webb.
With increasing cell phone coverage, Cal Fire stopped using fulltime summer lookouts in 2005 to save money. But the agency still staffs key lookout towers during periods of extreme fire danger.
When forecasters declared a red flag warning Thursday because of anticipated thunderstorm activity, two firefighters from the Pilot Hill Cal Fire station were posted in the 1960's vintage lookout on Pilot Peak.
Cal Fire also activated lookouts at Mt. Danaher in Camino and Mt. Zion in Amador County.
Webb said Cal Fire plans to install remote-controlled cameras in the towers later this summer, but said firefighters would continue to staff the towers on red flag days.
Witnesses reporting fires on cell phones often can't accurately describe the location and can't assess the relative danger of the fire, according to Webb.
"There still is a significant need for fire lookouts," he said.
KXTV/News10
