Will “Look Out Tower Fire Watcher” be Automated?

Core Skills & Abilities

• Locate forest fires on area maps, using azimuth sighters and known landmarks.

• Maintain records and logbooks.

• Compile and report meteorological data, such as temperature, relative humidity, wind direction and velocity, and types of cloud formations.

• Examine and inventory firefighting equipment, such as axes, fire hoses, shovels, pumps, buckets, and fire extinguishers, to determine amount and condition.

• Administer regulations regarding sanitation, fire prevention, violation corrections, and related forest regulations.

• Estimate sizes and characteristics of fires, and report findings to base camps by radio or telephone.

• Direct maintenance and repair of firefighting equipment, or requisition new equipment.

• Educate the public about fire safety and prevention.

• Restrict public access and recreational use of forest lands during critical fire seasons.

• Patrol assigned areas, looking for forest fires, hazardous conditions, and weather phenomena.

• Direct crews working on firelines during forest fires.

• Conduct wildland firefighting training.

• Inspect forest tracts and logging areas for fire hazards such as accumulated wastes or mishandling of combustibles, and recommend appropriate fire prevention measures.

• Extinguish smaller fires with portable extinguishers, shovels, and axes.

• Relay messages about emergencies, accidents, locations of crew and personnel, and fire hazard conditions.

• Inspect camp sites to ensure that campers are in compliance with forest use regulations.