By: Nadia Mohsen

How do you attach a cost to something that is priceless?

On September 1st, 2002, Southern California lost an archaeological site due to the Curve fire that devastated most of the Angeles National Forest. (see photo below) The South Mount Hawkins Fire Lookout Tower, erected in the late 1930's, burned to the ground in a level three fire, (see photo left). It was one of the only remaining fire lookouts in Southern California. At an elevation of almost 8,000, standing 30 feet in the air, the tower overlooked the cities of Azusa, Claremont, Glendora, Monrovia, and San Dimas, just to name a few, including the San Gabriel Valley water supply which provides water to millions of people.

Since the destruction of the tower, volunteers have stepped up to donate their time and money in the hopes of rebuilding the tower. A fund-raising campaign has been established to raise $85,000 to rebuild Mt. Hawkins, and they still have a ways to go having only acquired about $20,000. The Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association (ANFFLA) have already been able to restore three of these lookout towers and returned them to service. It is very much a citizen effort to rebuild the towers, all of which are volunteers and most fire lookouts themselves. Southern California fire lookouts are the only lookouts who are volunteers, feeling a civic duty to watch over the people of Los Angeles County.

Some may think that the proximity of the Angeles National Forest to millions of people puts the forest at a high risk of damage from human activities. Fire is a natural process, but due to carelessness by people, they can become very destructive to the forest. However, having millions of people near the forest also increases the chances that the forest will have many friends that care about it. These people can help protect the values that the forest holds.

The spirit of volunteering - giving some of your time for a cause greater than your own self-interest - is a tradition in America. It is in the knowledge that the parts are greater than the whole and that each of us benefits when we all work together. Civic responsibility is something that reflects the best in ourselves and in our country, and it is what makes this country great.

For a while it was thought that satellites could be used to detect fires. However, once a satellite would be able to see a fire, it was already too large to contain. Aircraft also yielded poor results, because of the fact that they could not stay in the air forever. Human fire lookouts are starting to come back into play. When it really comes down to it, you always need people. Technology can only go so far.

For information on how you can make a tax deductible donation, please visit: http://angeleslookouts.org

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