Upon inquiring in 18 nations having lookouts, it can be reasonably assumed that the highest elevations in the world ever to have a fire detection lookout were in the U.S.

12,276' high Mount Adams in Washington is the 3rd highest lookout. A wood frame D-6 cupola cabin was built on its summit in 1918, but was abandoned as a fire lookout after only four years use. Then, in 1932 a crew of miners tacked on a few additions and lived in the lookout for a decade while hauling 180 tons of pure sulfur from the volcano vent on mules off the summit. The cabin is there yet, fairly intact, only because for the past 60 years it has been entombed within the summit glacier, and probably will be until global warming makes the history books.

12,296' high Parkview Lookout, in Colorado's Arapaho National Forest, is the 2nd highest. The stone & cement summit cabin, built in 1915, and long since abandoned, is still there, and hopefully will be for many years to come.

13,214' high Fairview Peak Lookout, in Colorado's Gunnison National Forest, is the world's highest. It was built of summit stones in 1911, and was abandoned only the next year after being nearly pounded to death by lightning. Still in pretty good shape 98 years later, it is today undergoing a virtual re-awakening through a Passport-In-Time project by volunteers from across the nation, under the direction of Gunnison Forest Archaeologist Justin Lawrence.

The lowest elevation lookout? Well, there were 21 in Florida less than 10' above sea level; but their 100' Aermotor towers put them well above the surrounding landscape.

Mt Adams LO, WA - Elev.12,276' 1918-
Parkview LO, CO Elev.12,296' 1915-
Fairview Pk. LO, CO - Elev. 13,214'	Fairview Pk.LO, CO PassportInTime project 2008