UNION COUNTY
MULE PEAK
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest
5S-42E-13
5S-42E-13
August 11, 1916: "As protection against forest fires, Head Ranger W.D. Foreman, of Minam national forest, Grand Ronde district No. 3, has a man stationed on Granite Butte with a standard Army heliograph to work in conjunction with one on Trout Creek Ridge to discover and report fires." (The Morning Oregonian)
1924: A ground cabin lookout was constructed.
July 28, 1926: "A fire on Buck creek has been reported from the Mule peak lookout station. No serious damage has been caused yet." (La Grande Evening Observer)
July 29, 2005: Two employees were evacuated by helicopter from the lookout, firefighters wrapped the building in fire resistant material as a precaution. As the flames threatened, an aircraft dropped retardant as an additional measure to save the lookout and other buildings.
July 17, 2007: "A fast moving wildfire in the Wallowa Mountains about 30 miles northeast of Baker City forced a Forest Service worker to hitch a helicopter ride and evacuate the historic Mule Peak Lookout Monday afternoon." (Baker City Herald)