BRITISH COLUMBIA LOOKOUTS
LONGWORTH MOUNTAIN
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May 16, 1929: "The Forest Branch will have two additional lookout stations installed in this section within the next two weeks, one on Longworth mountain, four miles from Longworth and the other on Pope mountain, in the vicinity of the southern end of Stuart Lake. The lookouts will be connected by telephone with Ranger Stations. The purpose of these lookouts is the sighting of fires and the determination of their positions, so that no time will be lost in attempting to check them. There were five of these lookouts in use for part of the last fire season, one across the Fraser River from Prince George, one at Isle Pierre, one at Pilot mountain on the Chief Lake Road, one at Tsinkut mountain, and one at Fort Fraser, and they proved very effective adjuncts in fire fighting." (Prince George Citizen)
July 31, 1930: “During the terrific electric storm last night a bolt of lightning struck close to the look-out station of the forestry service on Longworth mountain. It started a clump of dry cedars burning which might have resulted in damage but for the heavy rain following which completely extinguished the fire before it could get a good hold.” (Prince George Citizen)
May 19, 1938: “The lookout station on Longworth Mountain was opened on May 11 which is the earliest date of opening for some years. Ross Ketter and Georgie Kuchler moved L. Lavingle's summer equipment up the mountain with pack ponies. The snow being too deep near the top for the ponies, the boys had to back-pack the remainder to the lookout cabin where they encountered about four feet of snow.” (Prince George Citizen)
June 30, 1969: “Lightning which started five new fires in the Prince George forest district over the weekend struck a forest service observation tower 60 air miles east of Prince George, but lookout man Malcolm Williamson escaped injury.
A B.C. Forest Service spokesman said today lightning struck the Longworth mountain lookout Friday night and started a fire at the base of the wooden tower.
Williamson succeeded in extinguishing the fire on his own, but a radio repeater which transmits messages from McBride and Valemount into Prince George was put out of action.
There are no roads into the tower which is serviced by helicopter. Williamson remained at his post today, apparently none the worse for his lonesome ordeal.” (Prince George Citizen)