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Maine History Online

A Maine Historical Society Website

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Looking Out: Maine's Fire Towers

Construction, Depot Mountain lookout, ca. 1914

Construction, Depot Mountain lookout, ca. 1914

Item 19118 info
Maine Forest Service

Further impetus to prevent forest fires came in 1903 when fires burned more than 200,000 acres in unorganized territories in Maine.

The 1891 legislation had led to some 29 wardens being appointed to cover 10 million acres.

The 1903 fires prompted the forest commissioner to appoint 141 wardens who were paid $2 a day for active service.

At left is construction of a 63-foot steel fire lookout tower at Depot Mountain in Aroostook County.