Sign is located in the parking area on the summit of Lava Butte.
Marker Name: Lava Butte Lookout
Marker Text: July 16, 1913: “The first action taken by the Deschutes Valley Fire Patrol Association will be the placing of a fire lookout at the top of Lava Butte. E.T. Gerrish has been employed and probably tomorrow will go to the butte. He will camp near the base on the river and have a horse to ride to the summit daily. A phone line will be installed next week.” — The Bend Bulletin
Welcome to the Lava Butte Lookout! The current lookout was constructed in 1998 and is the fourth structure at this site. Fire lookout structures have evolved over the last century. In the early 1900s many were as simple as a platform in a tree top, also known as a ‘crow’s nest.’ Lava Butte was one of three lookouts first established on the Deschutes National Forest. Odell Butte and Black Butte were the other two.
The Lava Butte Fire Lookout is one of the busiest in the Pacific Northwest. During an average year, the lookout staff call in more than 125 first reports of fires. Lookouts monitor and record lightning strikes, weather conditions, controlled burns, and assist crews on the ground. They play an important role in protecting people and natural resources.
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