SIERRA NATIONAL FOREST — Volunteers are now being recruited for the season to serve as fire lookouts on Miami Mountain.
Miami Lookout is a lookout tower located just east of Nippinawasee and is staffed throughout the fire season by Forest Service Volunteers.
The tower is a great asset to our mountain community because it is located in a prime location to overlook the Mariposa, Coarsegold and Oakhurst areas.
Fire Lookouts are responsible for keeping an eye out for smoke across the surrounding areas and contacting Sierra National Forest Dispatch Center to inform them of a possible vegetation or house fire. No experience is necessary and training will be provided.
There will be a meeting on Saturday, Apr. 22 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Bass Lake Ranger District Office at 57003 Road 225 in North Fork. Volunteers can sign up to staff the tower and learn more about the duties of a fire lookout.
For anyone interested in volunteering to staff Miami Lookout, but who is not able to attend the meeting, please email info@csflg.org to get further information.
Why don’t they hire people with our illegal fire tax? That is fire prevention, correct?
Satellite Surveillance is possible these days. Every fire department employee using a computer on “split screen” could “Look Out” on a 24/7 basis for “free”. The only cost would be for a subscription to a live feed on Google Earth or a similar “app” that might be free.
They could be in direct contact with helicopters and other aircraft loaded with Retardant and water to begin to fight sooner until engines and crews can arrive over land.