As new Northern California Director, starting in June 2006, I focused on the following:

-Familiarization with Chapter Director job description.

-Review of membership list. Inquiry of notification method for expired memberships, and renewals.

-Responding, as promptly as possible, to numerous email questions, and a few phone calls concerning variety of fire lookout issues. For example, access to fire tower blueprints, lookout staffing inquiries, photo availability inquiries, fire tower rental information, and general membership information.

-Learning the locations and access routes to many fire lookouts in Northern California Chapter area.


The Northern California Chapter has 53 members.

Goals and Objectives for Upcoming 2007 Season:

-Promote FFLA in the Redding & surrounding area. A presentation to annual California Department of Forestry retirement breakfast at nearby eatery is in the planning stage. Many retired fire folks reside in the area. Might be able to drum up support for a fire lookout preservation project or two.

-Expand FFLA membership through increased visiblity and outreach.

-Search for former fire lookouts, and conduct oral history interviews.

-Create a complete database by agency, location, and 2007 staffing status of all existing fire lookouts located in Northern California Chapter.

-Make personal visits to several staffed fire towers during 2007 fire season.

-Request additional FFLA brochures for distribution. This will increase visibility,and perhaps generate additional membership.

-Identify future lookout rental projects and search for possible sponsors.

-Contact U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Indian Affairs, National Park Service, and California Department of Forestry personnel concerning fire lookout preservation issues.

-Contact fire lookouts who regularly attended the annual Anderson lookout November gathering of years past and find out their FFLA membership status.

I was unable to attend the Western Conference meeting at Big Bear Lake due to job scheduling constraints. Hoping to attend the upcoming one in Montana in June 2007.

Spent 9 glorious days staffing Babbitt Peak Lookout for U.S. Forest Service on Tahoe National Forest in July 2006. Reported 4 fires, one as far away as the City of Reno. FFLA member Jeannie Petrinovich took over relief lookout status as I headed to a new job with California Department of Transportation.

Currently, an exhibit at the California Welcome Center, along Interstate 5, in Anderson, California displays several scale models of area fire lookouts. The "A Room With A View" Shasta-Trinity National Forest, U.S. Forest Service lookout rental information brochure is posted at the exhibit. I think the addition of several FFLA brochures would be great!

A huge thanks to Marie Hall for her patience in answering my many questions, and to all the helpful FFLA folks for the opportunity to be a part of this wonderful organization!

Submitted by Vickie Lamoureux, Northern California Chapter, Forest Fire Lookout Association.