LAKE COUNTY
GREEN MOUNTAIN
Bureau of Land Management
25S-17E-10
25S-17E-10
August 13, 1963: "The Green Mountain Lookout will be constructed by BLM. About $10,000 will be invested in this work. It will provide 12 man-months of employment beginning in September." (The Oregonian)
August 22, 1963: “BLM To Build Fire Lookout”
An allocation of $10,000 in accelerated Public Works funds has been authorized to the Lakeview District, Bureau of Land Management, to build a lookout at Green Mountain in the Fort Rock unit.
George Lea, district manager, said a temporary lookout has been there, with Mrs. Hazel Ward as lookout. The new structure will be built by contract, and bids will be called shortly by the Portland BLM state office." (Lake County Examiner)
October 3, 1963: " Bids have been called by the Bureau of Land Management for construction of a fire lookout at Green Mountain, east of Fort Rock, said George Lea, manager of the Lakeview BLM District.
The bids will be opened at 2 P.M. Friday, October 18, at the Field Administration Office, BLM, Portland. The contractor will have 90 days for completion.
The building is to be 2-story with the lower portion to be concrete block and the upper story frame construction. Plans and specifications can be seen at the Lakeview BLM office.
Accelerated Public Works funds will be used, and the contractor will have to employ at least 80% of his work force from among Lake County residents." (Lake County Examiner)
September 24, 1964: “A Visit To Range Fire Lookout”
Fire fighting has been the business of Mrs. Maurice (Hazel) Ward this summer. Well, not on the fire line, but keeping watch atop Green Mountain, new BLM lookout, just a 20 minute drive from her ranch home. So, its up in the morning and home at night.
The new lookout home was built last summer by contractor “Fitz” Fitzgerald of Klamath Falls. The two story house, 15 1/2 feet square, has living quarters on the lower level, modern with gas range and plenty of built-ins. The tinted glass of the fire-spotting story cuts out glare. Some windows open to welcome a cool breeze, or, if needed, there’s a gas heater for warmth.
We wondered what a fire lookout does. “The excitement comes during and after a lightning storm,” Hazel commented, showing us the insulated stool to stand on when the lightning is popping. “We’ve had rain after each storm this year. Some strikes will flare up, then die down. Maybe for a week after, sleepers will show up,” she continued. It takes a certain combination of humidity and heat to bring a sleeper to life, so the cool night hours are safe.
When she spots a fire Mrs. Ward reports it by radio to Lakeview. From there the crew is dispatched from the fire camp nine miles – by road – from Green Mountain. Then the teamwork begins since they can keep radio contact with the lookout.
Ordinary days back at the lookout mean regular checking for signs of smoke. The 15 minute intervals soon become part of your sense of timing. In between there’s letter writing, sewing, reading or study for this year’s teaching duties at Fort Rock School. Washing windows is the biggest housekeeping chore. An occasional jet flashes past at low elevation.
There are visitors every now and then, too. Usually at Green Mountain, 19 miles from Fort Rock, it’s family or friends since tourists rarely travel that far off the main roads.
Green Mountain and the surrounding cattle rangeland are familiar to Mrs. Ward. Their ranch, close by, has been home most her life – except college days, teaching, and early married years. She roamed the country horseback as a youngster. Nowadays it would be riding out to gather in cattle from their Green Mountain grazing land.
Her return to the classroom came mid-way through last school year when Fort Rock’s enrollment required adding a member to the teaching staff. She sandwiched in a short course at Monmouth before heading for the lookout July 1.
Even on her days off “manning” the lookout has been a feminine affair. For two days Marilyn Ward has traded jobs with her mother, giving up her position of chief cook and ranch helper at home for fire watching. And what does Hazel do on her days off? Well, recently she visited her sister, Mrs. Ted Emery of Silver Lake, lookout on Bear Butte, a rock on Bear Flat." (Lake County Examiner)
2006: Bill Friday was the primary lookout until the end of August when an injury put him out of service. The remainder of the season, Wendy Parker held the post.
February 18, 2010: (Synopsis) "RECOVERY - Green Mountain Lookout Replacement. This procurment is being funded via the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).
Work consists of demolishing and removing existing lookout tower, outhouse, and associated site work; construct the new road, residence, lookout tower, with associated site work and appurtenances. Project price range is between $1,000,000 and $5,000,000. NAICS: 236220. The project site is located near Christmas Valley in North Lake County, Lakeview District, Oregon. Estimated start work date is May 17, 2010 and performance time is 165 calender days." (Recovery - Z - Green Mountain Lookout Replacement, Department of the Interior, online)
January 2011: A new 50+ foot enclosed cinder block tower and rectangular observation cab completed.
