Historic Montana Lookout Tower Wrapped in Foil as Fire Approaches

Despite a few cooler days over the last week, several wildfires continue to burn in the Treasure State. According to InciWeb data shared by MTfireinfo.org, there are currently 56 active fires burning across the state (8/9/24), including 6 new ones in the last 24 hours. So far this season there have been a staggering 1,325 fires in Montana.

Firefighters aim to protect a former Montana fire lookout station.

High in the Bitterroot National Forest in Southwest Montana, fire crews spent Friday morning wrapping the historic McCart fire lookout station with what looks like tin foil. Of course, it's not actually Reynolds Wrap like you'd get at the grocery store.

The material is called aluminized structure wrap, and it can be quite effective in protecting buildings that are in the path of a forest fire. According to a Facebook post by the Forest Fire Lookout Association (FFLA), the McCart Fire Lookout Station in Montana was covered with the material as a precaution as the Johnson Ridge fire appears to be approaching from the south.

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Hundreds of fire lookout stations were once scattered across Montana.

During the 1930s and 40s, Montana had a staggering 639 active fire lookout stations, writes FFLA, manned by forestry staff whose main duty was to spot and report wildfires. Many remained operational through the 70s.

Thanks to advances in satellite, drone, and aircraft surveillance technology, the need for fire lookout stations across the West has declined. Many of them have been torn down or succumbed to the elements, while several of these ridge-top structures are now available as cabin rentals, such as the McCart Fire Lookout Station featured in this story.