Over on the hiking thread, I posted some shots from atop one of the many fire towers in Missouri.
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As late as the 1920s, much of the forested lands in the Ozarks burned twice each year, about two million acres each time. A huge network of fire towers sprung up across about six million acres of forested land in the state. At first they were as simple as boards nailed into trees forming crude ladders, then wooden structures, and finally the somewhat common metal towers we still see today.
Numbers are dwindling. At one time there were more than 250 towers in the state. Now there are probably somewhere between 85 and 95 standing, with far fewer active, thanks mostly to airplanes taking over their role. Some sites remain, but sadly without their towers:
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Towers fall primarily under three jurisdictions: Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). There are a few exceptions (Sunridge tower, the nearest to St. Louis, is one); also, some towers that have been dismantled are now privately owned.
Of the standing towers, at least a few dozen are too hazardous to climb....
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...or the areas in which they sit are completely closed:
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Most of the remaining fire towers are Aermotor designs (the company still makes windmills):
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Some are of a different style altogether....
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...and some have been modified from the original design (to include a platform for instance):
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Overall, towers in our state range from 50 feet....
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...to 120 feet:
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with most being about 100 feet.
As to climbing the towers, most of the MDC towers that are deemed safe either implicitly or explicitly allow climbing. There are several that strongly (but implicitly) disallow climbing:
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Most of the USFS and DNR towers are gated and locked, and all prohibit climbing. It's too bad, because many are sited spectacularly. But then again, so are many climbable ones:
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Some, you couldn't pay me to climb (at least not without some backup):
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Of the towers that are climbable, very few have cab access:
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Of those that do allow cab access, even fewer leave the Osborne Fire-Finder accessible.
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I'm posting this because I'm working with some of the fire tower experts in the state to compile, map, visit, and photograph all of the remaining fire towers in Missouri. They'll then be posted on a website.
From there, I'd like to help encourage their preservation and potentially raise money to help save towers scheduled for removal.
There is already too much trespassing (where access is prohibited) and vandalism at the sites. Please visit, respect the laws, and help others understand the importance of the towers to Missouri's natural history!
As late as the 1920s, much of the forested lands in the Ozarks burned twice each year, about two million acres each time. A huge network of fire towers sprung up across about six million acres of forested land in the state. At first they were as simple as boards nailed into trees forming crude ladders, then wooden structures, and finally the somewhat common metal towers we still see today.
Numbers are dwindling. At one time there were more than 250 towers in the state. Now there are probably somewhere between 85 and 95 standing, with far fewer active, thanks mostly to airplanes taking over their role. Some sites remain, but sadly without their towers:
Towers fall primarily under three jurisdictions: Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR), and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). There are a few exceptions (Sunridge tower, the nearest to St. Louis, is one); also, some towers that have been dismantled are now privately owned.
Of the standing towers, at least a few dozen are too hazardous to climb....
...or the areas in which they sit are completely closed:
Most of the remaining fire towers are Aermotor designs (the company still makes windmills):
Some are of a different style altogether....
...and some have been modified from the original design (to include a platform for instance):
Overall, towers in our state range from 50 feet....
...to 120 feet:
with most being about 100 feet.
As to climbing the towers, most of the MDC towers that are deemed safe either implicitly or explicitly allow climbing. There are several that strongly (but implicitly) disallow climbing:
Most of the USFS and DNR towers are gated and locked, and all prohibit climbing. It's too bad, because many are sited spectacularly. But then again, so are many climbable ones:
Some, you couldn't pay me to climb (at least not without some backup):
Of the towers that are climbable, very few have cab access:
Of those that do allow cab access, even fewer leave the Osborne Fire-Finder accessible.
I'm posting this because I'm working with some of the fire tower experts in the state to compile, map, visit, and photograph all of the remaining fire towers in Missouri. They'll then be posted on a website.
From there, I'd like to help encourage their preservation and potentially raise money to help save towers scheduled for removal.
There is already too much trespassing (where access is prohibited) and vandalism at the sites. Please visit, respect the laws, and help others understand the importance of the towers to Missouri's natural history!
