Partly Cloudy Milky Way Over Highpoint Fire Lookout

            The white blob to the left is, I believe, Jupiter. Shot atop Palomar Mountain on 6/24/2020 with a Canon EOS R.

There were once numerous fire lookout towers like this one, but many of these towers were decommissioned in the 1990's. In recent years this tower and several others have been reopened and staffed. It's since been determined that human eyes are still among the best technology at spotting fires. I remember years ago when I posted some photos of another tower - the one on nearby Boucher Hill - in disrepair. After a couple of HUGE wildfires in San Diego County in 2003 and 2007, people would comment on my photos "They should start using these again!" Well now they are.

The first Highpoint lookout tower was constructed on the site in 1935 by the Civilian Conservation Corps for the US Forest Service. That tower was replaced by the current structure in 1964.

A 13 x 13 foot CL-30 series steel cab sits atop an all-steel L-1600 series 67-6 tower. High Point Lookout is the tallest tower remaining in the Forest Service inventory in California.

The Cleveland National Forest last staffed the tower in 1992. The cab exterior and tower are in excellent condition.

The interior was removed due to vandalism in 2005. A security gate has since been installed on the tower. Tower restoration with new glass, cabinets and flooring was completed in 2009.

The San Diego-Riverside Chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association began staffing the tower with volunteers for fixed-point fire detection in 2009. FFLA-SDRC first achieved a 100% staffing during the 2013 fire season. FFLA-SDRC has achieved that same 100% fire season staffing for every year since with few exceptions due to weather.

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Taken in: United States / California / Oak Grove (show map)

Taken on: June 24, 2020

Tags:

high point

lookout

USFS

fire

Palomar Mountain

California

United States of America

firefighting

fire lookout

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Sets appears in: • Milky Way

Groups appears in: • San Diego • After Dark - Night Photography more » • Night Shots* • Astronomy • Long exposures at night • The Milky Way • San Diego Super Shooters • Fire, Flame, Smoke, Fighters, Anything about Fire! • san diego photo group • The word FIRE • San Diego Fire • Southern California Wildfires • Night and darkness • FIRE FIRE FIRE • San Diego Night Shots • Night shooters • The SanDiegoist • Fire, Rescue, Emergency and EMS HiQ • The Dark Side of San Diego • The Secret Spots of San Diego • Astronomy Photos • Into the Night Photography • Night photography Lovers • Anyone for long exposures and night photography? • California Wildfires • Yes you can see the Milky Way • The Head in the Milky Way « less

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