Needles Lookout destroyed by fire
The Needles Fire Lookout Tower, one of the most popular places to visit on the Western Divide Ranger District in Sequoia National Forest, was destroyed by a fire Thursday.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but it was determined that the blaze was not in any way related to the Lion Fire that is currently burning in the Golden Trout Wilderness.
There was a U.S. Forest Service employee stationed in the tower, but the employee was able to get out before the lookout was engulfed by flames.
A wildland fire resulted from the burning debris that fell from the tower. The status of that fire was unknown as of press time, but crews were on the scene.
“This is a tragic loss to the district,” District Ranger Priscilla Summers said. “I’m relieved the person staffing the lookout tower was able to safely evacuate the tower before it burned.”
Built in 1937-38 by the Civilian Conservation Corps atop the Needles rock formation at 8,245 feet, Needles Lookout overlooked the Kern River Drainage, Mt. Whitney, Olancha Peak, Farewell Gap and Dome Rock. The 14-foot-by-14-foot wooden tower was the primary communication line for people in the backcountry where cell phones do not work.
The tower served as a USFS employee’s office and home for the summer months while the lookout was on duty. The employee was responsible for detecting fires and relaying radio messages to the dispatcher, who in turn sent firefighters and support equipment to extinguish the reported fire.
Firefighters are ensuring the safety of visitors by closing Forest Road 21S05, trail 32E22 that leads to Needles Lookout and the area surrounding the rock formation where the lookout was perched. The closure area includes the formation popular for rock climbers known as The Magician and will remain closed until the wildland fire has been contained and the area is safe for visitors.
“It’s a lookout that’s been in existence ever since I can remember,” said Del Pengilly, who served as a district ranger for 28 years. “It’s too bad that it happened.”
