Lookout Charley

Classroom Training

After waiting for 10 months, classes begin for Fire Lookout training at the main Supervisor's office. The beginning of a childhood dream for me.

Got my notes, coffee, snacks, water, book, forms, pen, and hat... I'm set to learn.
Amazing how much there is to learn and be aware of to sit in a tower.

Tools of the Fire Lookout trade. Upper end of table is a fire shelter and a practice shelter. Wind gauge, binoculars, compass, distilled water, radio and case, weather kit and the Osborne Fire Locator.

Pam Morey conducting the classroom training. The training consisted of how to read the Weather, Fire Lookout Operations, History of the local mountains, with lessons about the wildlife, plant life, and of course the rules and regulations.

Outside, Kevin is giving instruction regarding the use of the belt weather kit. This is the same kit that firefighters carry on their belts to determine humidity levels and relative fire danger.

My first crack with the "sling cyclometer". This instrument has two thermometers. One is a dry-bulb (normal) and the other is a wet-bulb (covered in a wet thermometer sock). This tool is swung around in a circle to increase the evaporation rate for 1 minute.
After a few minutes the air around the thermometer will become saturated and the wet-bulb temperature will have been reached.
The wet-bulb temperature is important in evaluating atmospheric instability that can effect fire danger.

Instructor George Morey giving an Osborne Smoke test to Tino. This device allows the fire lookout to pin point a fire's coordinates so that he may call it in by radio to the Angeles Forest Dispatcher.
Fire crews, and or helicopters are sent out right away. At our call, we can lunch millions of dollars worth of equipment and manpower so we have to really know how to identify a fire, and where it is located.

U.S. Forest Service helicopter hot shot Rachel and Patrol 16 Chris, visit our class with instructors Pam & George Morey.
Randy is at the Osborne taking his test.

Chris and George addresses the class. Chris is the fire patrol lookout in a truck. As he says, "I am happy to have a tower open in my area. You are the eyes in the sky, while I'm on the ground. If you need anything you just give Patrol 16 a call."

Fire Shelter instruction video. May we never have to use one of these. A fire shelter is a last resort option. Many have been saved because of them, but many have also died inside these shelters, so there is no guarantee in for survival in an entrapment situation.
Here is an outside link for more information on the fire shelter from the Forest Service.
Fire Shelter Information

My graduation picture.
Classroom instruction is complete. Here I am in my new uniform and ready for the second phase of my training that will be in the actual tower.
I meet my folks at Claim Jumper restaurant nearby to celebrate, and because I will be in the tower for Father's Day, we celebrated that too.

Return to Mountain Hawk Fire Lookout Index

	After waiting for 10 months, classes begin for Fire Lookout training at the main Supervisor's office. The beginning of a childhood dream for me.
	Got my notes, coffee, snacks, water, book, forms, pen, and hat... I'm set to learn. Amazing how much there is to learn and be aware of to sit in a tower.
	Tools of the Fire Lookout trade. Upper end of table is a fire shelter and a practice shelter. Wind gauge, binoculars, compass, distilled water, radio and case, weather kit and the Osborne Fire Locator.
	Pam Morey conducting the classroom training. The training consisted of how to read the Weather, Fire Lookout Operations, History of the local mountains, with lessons about the wildlife, plant life, and of course the rules and regulations.
	Outside, Kevin is giving instruction regarding the use of the belt weather kit. This is the same kit that firefighters carry on their belts to determine humidity levels and relative fire danger.
	My first crack with the "sling cyclometer". This instrument has two thermometers. One is a dry-bulb (normal) and the other is a wet-bulb (covered in a wet thermometer sock). This tool is swung around in a circle to increase the evaporation rate for 1 minute. After a few minutes the air around the thermometer will become saturated and the wet-bulb temperature will have been reached. The wet-bulb temperature is important in evaluating atmospheric instability that can effect fire danger.
	Instructor George Morey giving an Osborne Smoke test to Tino. This device allows the fire lookout to pin point a fire's coordinates so that he may call it in by radio to the Angeles Forest Dispatcher. Fire crews, and or helicopters are sent out right away. At our call, we can lunch millions of dollars worth of equipment and manpower so we have to really know how to identify a fire, and where it is located.
	U.S. Forest Service helicopter hot shot Rachel and Patrol 16 Chris, visit our class with instructors Pam & George Morey. Randy is at the Osborne taking his test.
	Chris and George addresses the class. Chris is the fire patrol lookout in a truck. As he says, "I am happy to have a tower open in my area. You are the eyes in the sky, while I'm on the ground. If you need anything you just give Patrol 16 a call."
	Fire Shelter instruction video. May we never have to use one of these. A fire shelter is a last resort option. Many have been saved because of them, but many have also died inside these shelters, so there is no guarantee in for survival in an entrapment situation. Here is an outside link for more information on the fire shelter from the Forest Service. Fire Shelter Information
	My graduation picture. Classroom instruction is complete. Here I am in my new uniform and ready for the second phase of my training that will be in the actual tower. I meet my folks at Claim Jumper restaurant nearby to celebrate, and because I will be in the tower for Father's Day, we celebrated that too.