SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) — As hot, dry conditions increase wildfire danger across San Diego County, concerns are growing over the closure of two historic fire lookout towers that volunteers say play a critical role in spotting fires before they spread.
The towers, operated in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service and staffed by members of the Forest Fire Lookout Association (FFLA), provide panoramic views of vast stretches of the county. The three lookout towers include Boucher Hill and High Point on Palomar Mountain, as well as Los Pinos, which oversees areas south of Interstate 8.
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Bob Littlejohn, a Valley Center resident and retired Navy commander, has volunteered as a fire lookout for the past four years. Volunteers staff the towers from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the region’s fire season, typically from May through November, watching for smoke that could signal the start of a wildfire.
“When we make a smoke report, it goes into the Forest Service located with Cal Fire in El Cajon,” Littlejohn said. “They may have already received a 911 call or reports from cameras, but they use our information along with other tools to determine what action to take.”
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According to the FFLA, recent safety inspections found that both the High Point and Los Pinos towers, which are decades old and located on federal land, require significant repairs. The estimated cost of the work exceeds $140,000…