Spring 2013 Fires

Hubbard County:
Park Rapids Enterprise
http://www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/content/fire-park-rapids-area-burns-structures-forces-evacuations

KSTP
http://kstp.com/news/stories/S3033308.shtml?cat=1



Beltrami County:
Bemidji Pioneer
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/content/two-wildfires-burning-northern-beltrami-county

Minnesota Incident Command System: http://mnics.org/wpress/

Minnesota Fire Lookout Towers A - Z

Tower list A - Z (as of late 2012):
(list may change off and on, list includes some duplicates and some unverified towers, not all links are active). The towers without links are those I hope to visit or obtain some information about. Postings beyond this will occur as information is available.

1. Agassiz NWR Lookout Tower - standing at Refuge Headquarters
2. Ahrens Hill Lookout Tower
3. Aitkin Fire Tower - 1934 survey reference - ...the 84-foot tower...
4. Aiton Heights Fire Tower - standing in Itasca State Park
• formerly Forestry Headquarters Tower
5. Alida Hill Fire Tower - pre-1938
6. Allen Forestry Observation Tower
7. Anchor Hill Fire Tower
• Anchor Hill - pre-1938 - earlier tower
8. Angleworm Lookout Tower
9. Arago Lookout Tower
10. Argus Lookout Tower
11. Arrow Lookout Tower
12. Arrowhead Lookout Tower
13. Ash River Lookout Tower - standing in Kabetogama State Forest
• Ash River - 4-post angle steel - earlier tower
14. Askov Lookout Tower
15. Babbitt Lookout Tower - 1952 survey reference - no text
16. Badoura Fire Tower - standing at state tree nursery - Badoura State Forest
• earlier tower possible 
17. Ball Bluff Lookout Tower - standing in Savanna State Forest
18. Balsam Township - Chippewa National Forest - a possible tower site based on CNF records
19. Bankton Fire Tower
20. Bass Lake Fire Tower - Mahnomen County - 1964 survey reference - site of an abandoned lookout tower
21. Bass Lake Lookout Tower - Itasca County
22. Bearskin Fire Lookout Tower
23. Beauty Lake Lookout Tower
24. Bemidji Fire Tower 
• standing as Wilderness Fire Tower - Hubbard County
25. Ben Draper Lookout Tower - standing
26. Big Falls Lookout Tower
27. Big Meadows Lookout Tower - survey notes from 1960: It is a four legged steel structure with a metal and glass observation room at the top. The overall height is 110 feet. Reported standing - Red Lake IR
28. Birch Hill Lookout Tower - Chippewa National Forest
29. Birch Knob Lookout Tower
30. Birch Lake Fire Tower
31. Birchdale Fire Tower - standing
32. Black Bay Fire Tower - standing
33. Blackduck Lookout Tower - standing
34. Blueberry - map reference - near Blueberry Hill campground Beltrami Island State Forest - no evidence except clearing at location
35. Blueberry Hill Lookout Tower
36. Bois Forte Lookout Tower - standing - Bois Forte IR
37. Borden Lake Lookout Tower - site is now ARMER 
38. Boulder Hill Lookout Tower - Chippewa National Forest
• standing at Forest History Center, Grand Rapids
39. Boy River Fire Tower - - Chippewa National Forest - see Hillview
40. Brainerd Lookout Tower
41. Brule Lake Lookout Tower
42. Bud Hill Lookout Tower
43. Buena Vista Lookout Tower
44. Buhl Lookout Tower
45. Bunker Prairie Lookout Tower - tower confirmed by Anoka County - removed mid/late 1990s.
46. Cambridge Lookout Tower - survey reference from 1976: The tower is a 4 legged steel tower, approximately 100 feet high, with observation room on top. Standing.
47. Camp B - map reference
48. Carlos Avery Lookout Tower 
• restored and standing in Linwood, MN
49. Carlton Peak Lookout Tower
50. Cascade Lookout Tower
51. Cass Lake Lookout Tower - - Chippewa National Forest - Supervisor's Office
52. Clear River Lookout Tower - standing in Beltrami Island State Forest
• earlier tower at site
53. Cloquet Forest Lookout Tower - standing in University of Minnesota Cloquet Forest
54. Cloquet Lake Lookout Tower
55. Cloquet Lumber Company Tower - records from Library of Congress
56. Cloquet Valley Lookout Tower
57. Coast Guard Lookout Tower
58. Coleraine Fire Lookout Tower - standing
59. Comstock/Hart Lake - map reference
60. Cotton Lookout Tower - standing - will be auctioned
• Cotton pre-1937 - earlier tower
61. Cramer Lookout Tower
62. Crane Lake Lookout Tower
63. Cromwell Lookout Tower - standing
64. Cuba Hill Lookout Tower - Chippewa National Forest - standing
65. Cut Foot Sioux - Chippewa National Forest
66. Cuyuna Lookout Tower
67. Day Lake Lookout Tower
68. Deer Lake Lookout Tower
69. Deming Lake
70. Dentaybow Fire Tower
71. DeSoto Fire Tower
72. Devilfish Fire Lookout Tower - standing - cab removed - ARMER tower
73. Dixon Lake Lookout Tower
• Dixon Lake 3-post - earlier tower
74. Dorset Lookout Tower
75. Drummond Tower
76. Eaglehead Lookout Tower
77. Egg Lake Fire Tower
78. Elba Lookout Tower - standing
79. Elbow Fire Tower
80. Elephant Lake Lookout Tower - standing
81. Eliason Fire Tower
82. Ely Lookout Tower
83. Emily Lookout Tower - standing
84. Eveleth Lookout Tower
• earlier tower at site
85. Farley Hill Fire Tower - standing
86. Farris Lookout Tower
87. Faunce Lookout Tower - standing
• earlier tower south of present tower
88. Fernberg Lookout Tower
89. Finland Lookout Tower - standing
90. Flat Lake Fire Tower
91. Floodwood Lookout Tower - standing
92. Forestry Headquarters Tower - the Aiton Heights tower before moving
93. Fox Lake Lookout Tower - 1959 survey reference - It is a four legged steel structure with an observation room at the top. The overall height is 100 feet. - Red Lake IR
94. Fremont Lookout Tower - map reference
95. Gates Corner Fire Tower - survey reference
96. Gemmell Fire Tower
97. Gheen Hill Lookout Tower - standing
98. Glen Lookout Tower
99. Goose - Chippewa National Forest - a possible tower site based on CNF records
100. Goose Lake Lookout - the second tower in Camp Ripley, this was the southern tower
101. Gooseberry Park Tower - historical reference
102. Grand Marais Lookout Tower
103. Grattan Fire Tower - Chippewa National Forest - a possible tower site based on CNF records
104. Gull Lake Lookout Tower
105. Gunflint Lookout Tower - Superior National Forest
106. Happy Land Lookout Tower
107. Height of Land Lookout Tower - standing
108. Heritage Lookout Tower - standing - Bois Forte IR
109. Hillview Lookout Tower - see Boy River
110. Honeymoon Lookout Tower
111. Hovland Lookout Tower - standing
112. Independence Lookout Tower
113. Indian Pines Fire Tower - standing - Red Lake IR
114. Isabella Lookout Tower - called Stony Lookout Tower
115. Island Lake Lookout Tower - steel tower at Cloquet Lumber site
116. Isle Harbor Fire Tower 
• standing in Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
117. Itasca Fire Tower - replaced Forestry Headquarters Tower (Itasca State Park), removed
118. Jack Pine Mountain Lookout Tower
119. Jasper Peak Lookout Tower - standing
• earlier tower - Jasper Lookout Station
120. Jay Cooke Lookout Tower
121. Jessie Lake Lookout Tower
122. Kabekona Fire Tower - standing
123. Kabetogama Lookout Tower - standing
124. Kekekabic Lookout Tower
125. Kelliher Fire Tower - reported damaged during removal
126. Kelso Mountain Lookout Tower
127. Koochiching County
128. Larsmount Fire Tower
129. LaSalle Fire Tower - standing
130. Lawler Lookout Tower
131. Lawson Lookout Tower - standing - auctioned 2012
132. LeVeaux Mountain Lookout Tower
133. Lima Mountain Lookout Tower
134. Linder Fire Tower - standing
135. Link Lake Lookout Tower
136. Little Flat Lake Lookout Tower
137. Littlefork Lookout Tower - may have been Happyland tower
138. Little Mantrap Lookout Tower
139. Loman Fire Tower - standing - private
140. Longville Fire Tower - standing - cab removed
• earlier 40-foot, open cab tower
141. Lost River Lookout Tower
142. Ludlow Fire Tower
• earlier tower near site
143. Makinen Lookout Tower
144. Maple Hill Lookout Tower
145. Marble Lookout Tower
146. Marshall Lookout Tower - standing - Bois Forte IR
147. Martin Hope Fire Tower
148. Mille Lacs Lookout Tower
149. Mirror Lake Lookout Tower - standing - cab removed
150. Molde Lookout Tower - standing
151. Moose Lake Lookout Tower - standing - cab removed - ARMER tower
152. Moose Lake  - Chippewa National Forest  - survey records call this the Grattan Fire Tower
153. Moose Mountain Lookout Tower
154. Motley Lookout Tower - this was the relocated Goose Lake tower from Camp Ripley
155. Mountain Iron Fire Tower
156. Mt. Josephine Lookout Tower
157. Mt. Maud Lookout Tower - standing
158. Mt. Sophie Lookout Tower - standing
159. Mt. Weber Lookout Tower
160. Mud Lake Lookout Tower - Chippewa National Forest
161. Mud Lake Wildlife Refuge Tower
162. Mud River Forest Lookout Tower - standing - Red Lake IR
163. Mulberg Lookout Tower - Superior National Forest
164. Nett Lake LO - map reference
165. Nickerson Lookout Tower - standing
166. Nimrod Fire Tower - standing
167. Norris Fire Tower - standing
168. Northome Fire Tower
• Northome 1912 - earlier tower
169. Northwest Angle Lookout Tower
170. Norway Lookout Tower - Superior National Forest
171. Nushka Lookout Tower - Chippewa National Forest
172. Oaks Corner Fire Tower - map reference
173. O'Brien Lookout Tower
174. Pequaywan Lookout Tower
175. Pequot Lookout Tower - standing
• earlier tower at site
176. Pickerel Lookout Tower
177. Pike Mountain Lookout Tower
178. Pimushe Lookout Tower - Chippewa National Forest
179. Pine Island Fire Tower 
• standing as Big Bog Observation Tower, Big Bog SRA, Waskish
180. Pine Mountain Lookout Tower - Cass Co
181. Pine Mountain Lookout Tower - Cook Co
182. Pinewood Lookout Tower 
• standing at Beltrami County Fairgrounds, Bemidji
183. Plum Creek Lookout Tower
184. Pomroy Lookout Tower - standing
185. Ponemah Lookout Tower - standing, Red Lake IR
186. Prosper Fire Tower - standing
187. Quadna Fire Tower - standing
188. Rail Prairie Lookout - this tower was located in the west central area of Camp Ripley (referred to as Camp Ripley in some databases)
189. Rapid River Fire Tower - standing
• earlier tower near or at present site
190. Ray Fire Tower
191. Red Lake - standing, Red Lake IR
192. Remer Fire Tower - Chippewa National Forest
• earlier tower located short distance away
193. Rice Lake Lookout Tower
194. Ridge Lookout Tower - standing - Red Lake IR
195. River Lookout Tower - Red Lake IR
196. Rock Cut Lookout Tower
197. Roseau River Lookout Tower - standing
198. Roy Lake Fire Tower - survey and map reference
199. Rushseba Lookout Tower - standing
200. Sand Dunes Lookout Tower - standing
201. Sandy Lake Lookout Tower - standing
202. Savage Lookout Tower - survey reference
203. Scenic Lookout Tower - standing
204. Schley Lookout Tower - Chippewa National Forest
205. Schoolcraft Fire Tower - standing
206. Shell Lookout Tower - survey reference
207. Shoepack Fire Tower - now privately stored in safe keeping
208. Side Lake Lookout Tower - standing
209. Sioux River Lookout Tower - Superior National Forest
210. Skibo Lookout Tower - Superior National Forest
211. Slim Lake Lookout - Superior National Forest
212. Smoky Hills Fire Tower - standing
213. Spider Lake Fire Tower
214. Spirit Lake Fire Tower - historical reference - maps indicate Fire Tower Hill
215. St. Croix West Area Fire Tower - standing
216. State Fair Fire Tower - standing
217. Steamboat Lookout Tower
218. Stokes Lookout Tower - Chippewa National Forest
219. Stony Lookout Tower - once called Isabella Lookout Tower
220. Stony Ridge Lookout Tower - moved to Linwood, Minnesota. No remains at original site.
221. Sugarbush Lookout Tower 
222. Sullivan Lake Lookout Tower
223. Sumac Lookout Tower - Chippewa National Forest
224. Summit Lookout Tower - standing
225. Ten Lake - Chippewa National Forest - a possible tower site based on CNF records
226. Thistledew Lookout Tower
227. Thorpe Lookout Tower
• possible earlier tower at site
228. Toad Mountain Lookout Tower
229. Toimi - map reference
230. Toivola Lookout Tower - tower site was auctioned off in 2010. Site was mined for gravel.
231. Torfin Lookout Tower pre-1913
232. Tulaby Lookout Tower - standing
233. Vermilion Dam Lookout Tower - standing
234. Wabana Lookout - Chippewa National Forest - survey records
235. Wagner Lake Lookout Tower - Chippewa National Forest
236. Walker Fire Tower
237. Wanless Fire Tower
238. Warroad Lookout Tower
239. Warroad South
240. Waskish Fire Tower 
• standing as Cloverleaf near Bemidji
• earlier ladder tower near site
241. Western Lookout - Superior National Forest
242. Whipholt Fire Tower - Chippewa National Forest
243. White Elk Lookout Tower
244. White Pine Lookout Tower
245. Willow River Lookout Tower
246. Winnie Dam Fire Tower - Chippewa National Forest
247. Wolf Lake Fire Tower
248. Wood Duck Lookout Tower - survey reference
249. Woodland Lookout Tower 
• restored and standing in Linwood, MN
250. Wynne Lake Lookout Tower

Cuba Hill Lookout Tower

Cuba Hill is one of three remaining towers in Chippewa National Forest. It was erected pre-1935 and is a 120 foot tall ladder tower.

November 2010

November 2010

November 2010

Cuba Hill Guard Cabin, 01/22/1935
The National Archives

Three successive stations and sidings of this railway (Great Northern) in the north edge of Cass County, established in 1898-99, are commemorative of our short and decisive war with Spain, named Schley, Santiago, and Cuba. - Minnesota Place Names, A Geographical Encyclopedia, Warren Upham

Birchdale Fire Tower

Birchdale is one of three towers visible on Highway 11 along the northern border. Erected in 1928 by the state forest service it is an 81 foot tall ladder tower. A cabin and warehouse were originally near the tower. A county garage is located there now.

November 2010

Survey notes from 1967 describe the tower: "The tower is 100 feet high, is gray and has green trim, is a metal cabin of the bird cage type and is supported by 4 legs."

November 2010

BIRCHDALE, a village in section 3 of T. 159N, R. 27W (Sault), was named for the many groves of white birch found there in early days, as suggested by Mae Whitney Buell. It was settled primarily by Scandinavians beginning in 1899; it had a station of the Duluth, Winnipeg and Pacific Railway; its post office was first established in Itasca County in 1906 in the home of postmaster Herbert T. Whitcomb. - Minnesota Place Names, A Geographical Encyclopedia, Warren Upham