Experiences at Dept. of Agriculture

One of the questions from the public was "How many fires have you had." I had a visual map of the area that showed the location, name, date, and cause of the fire. This was very informative to the visitors.

The most unique aspect of the job was sitting through a monsoon storm. When a storm cell would approach the lookout tower within a couple miles I would have to sit on an insulated chair to protect me from a possible electrocution.

The best team was with the other Lookouts and ground personnel in the area. We all worked together to dectect, report and moinitor forest fires.

Physical excersise
Interaction with the public
Knowledge of the area

My job at the Fire Lookout Tower was very physical. I had to climb 111 stairs (83 feet) to the top 6-8 times a day.
At the top of the tower was a 14 x 14 foot room which I would describe my job to visitors as a "great office job with a view, and a built in deluxe stair master." This would always get a chuckle. This job also entails intense observation of the surrounding terrain at all times during the shift, radio communications, reporting weather observations, public service, and maintaining record and logbooks....

I had lived in the Coconino National Forest for 3 years before hiring on with the Forest Service in 1999. Being in a rual area I enjoyed the benefits of much that the forest had to offer, hiking, bird watching, hunting, fishing, being in a natural environment. Also living in a small community brings a social aspect to volunteering my time. I have been treasurer for Rim Country Rescue from 2000 - 2006. I am responsible for 4 miles of highway clean up in the area. I am a out going person who loves to share my knowledge of the area and encourage people to discover the great out doors, working for the Forest Service at the Fire Lookout tower put me in the middle of what I love most. As the tens of thousands of interested tourist visited the Lookout Tower over the years I could utilize my public service skills to share the facts of saftey in the forest, fire detection, hiking and motorized trails, and places of interest in the area....