SimlyayTymoo
Warm Springs, Okkgon
Aucusl 7, 1992 PAGE 3
Lookouts instrumental in detecting fires within reservation boundaries and beyond
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A spectacular panoramic view can be seen from the Eagle Butte lookout.
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a firp lnnknut sfatinn. Vipws are soectacular from that vantace DOint
Heichth has its ad vantace, especially when one is perched hich atop
a fire lookout station. Views are spectacular from that vantace point-
one is literally above the treesand on an even plane with the surround
ingtowcring peaks.
The Warm Spri ncs Reservation has three such lookou ts. The Shi tike,
Sidwalter and Eagle Butte Lookouts are located at optimal sites that
allow for quick detection of fires within reservation ooundaries and
beyond. Each lookout is manned from June 1 through September 30 of
each year.
Haok Palmer mans the Shitike Butte Lookout. This being his first
year, Hank is not quite familiar with the aerial layout of the reservation.
But, he has located the spots he knows on the Fire Finder map and he
feels confident in pinpointing fires by calculating the locations math
ematically. Like the ofher lookouts, Hank remains in the lookout for eight hours
a day, sometimes longer, depending on the weather and fire condi
tions. If lightning storms come through, he keeps an eagle eye out for
smoke. Hank says that sometimes a fire can "sleep" and go undetected
for up to two weeks, thus making the job even more difficult. "We have
to keep an eye on certain hot spots," he says.
I he cubicles atop the lookout
are small, about six feet by six feet
Within that small space is a radio,
a chair, a roll of maps and the Fire
Finder. The legs of Hank's chair
are set in glass insulator's so that
he won't be electrocuted during a
lightning storm. Some storms are
so intense that "the place
buzzes. ..batteries make little
noises and there is a lot of static
electricity in the air," says Hank.
About 20 miles away, as the
crow flies, is the Sidwalter Butte
lookout. Jim Keene, a retired
teacher from Lincoln City, has
mannned the 29-year-old tower
for the past 27 years. His tenure as
a lookout makes him totally famil
iar with the reservation landscape
and weather patterns that can roll
across the terrain.
Keene, married to the former
Gloria Courtney, has bc;cn a look
ou t on the reserva tion for 30 years.
He, his wife and two children have
spent their summers at various
lookouts. It's a great way for the
kids to "get along for at least three
months out of the year. It taught
them to be creative," says Jim. Up
here, he says, "you can't turn a.
knob for instant entertainment."
He and his daughter Keely spent
many hours running, tallying up
a total of 500 road miles one summer.
Keene spends much of his time reading and catching up on paper
work when not occupying the tower. From his perch 100 feet above
ground, Keene can view a "tree farm" developed several years ago by
I A forestry crews. He, like Hank, can see the Agency Flains and help
keep an eye on the field burning,
All lookout personnel are familiar with the color of smoke that rises
from different types of fires. Blue smoke comes from brush and grass
fires, where brown smoke rises from burning trees.
Debbie Williams is posted at the Eagle Butte Lookout, a high and
arid viewpoint off Highway 3. From there, most of the Warm Springs
and Simnasho communities can be seen. Debbie is not alone at the
lookout, as a few rattle snakes have been spotted. Unlike the other
lookouts, Eagle Butte has electricity.
All lookouts have weather stations from which a day's high and low
temperature, relative humidity and wind direction and velocity are
taken. Fuel moisture is also determined. Current conditions indicate
that forested lands are tinder dry. Extreme caution is warranted.
With the end of September will come the end of the regular fire
season. Down, off their perches, will come the lookouts, only to return
next year.
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Hank Palmer is spending his first summer at Shitike Butte Lookout.
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TheSidwalterButteTowerisoneofthreelookoutsonthereservation.
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ym Keene has been a forestry lookout on the reservation for the past 30 years.
An azimuth (Fire Finder) important in locating smoke and potential fires.
Text and Photos by Donna Behrend