Eight years after a devastating wildfire destroyed the historic High Glade Lookout, the fire tower is once again watching over Northern California.
The Mendocino National Forest announced that the rebuilt High Glade Lookout is back in operation after the original 85-year-old structure burned during the Ranch Fire in 2018. Rebuilt in 2025 with disaster funding provided to the U.S. Forest Service, the tower is now staffed for the 2026 wildfire season.
Located just below 5,000 feet in the southern portion of Mendocino National Forest, High Glade provides an important vantage point for detecting wildfires and monitoring weather conditions in a remote area where cellphone service can be unreliable.
Longtime fire lookout Annelle Durham and newcomer Aslan Mitchell began their seasonal work at the rebuilt tower this summer, helping provide another layer of wildfire detection for forests and communities near Clear Lake.
A Modern Tower With Historic Roots
The new High Glade Lookout was built to modern safety and structural standards while closely resembling the historic structure that stood at the site for decades.
The tower features a 10-by-10-foot cabin sitting atop a 35-foot steel structure. Modern additions include electricity, running water and a heavy-duty cable designed to provide protection during lightning strikes.
Inside the cabin staff use traditional equipment including an Osborne Fire Finder to help identify and map potential wildfire locations. The lookout also features cameras that allow for remote monitoring. However on-site staff remain an important part of the Forest Service’s broader wildfire detection network.
Human Eyes Still Play A Critical Role
Fire lookouts scan the surrounding landscape in every direction every 15 minutes, watching for smoke and monitoring changing weather conditions. When they identify a possible fire start, they communicate directly with dispatch centers and emergency responders by radio.
Their observations supplement wildfire cameras, aerial patrols, dispatch operations and reports from members of the public. High Glade’s return also represents the continuation of a long history of fire lookouts on Mendocino National Forest. During the 1930s, as many as 30 lookouts were positioned across the forest to help spot and locate wildfires.
Today only three lookouts remain on the Mendocino National Forest, including Anthony Peak, Pine Mountain and High Glade.
Back On Watch During Fire Season
The Ranch Fire swept through the southern half of Mendocino National Forest in July 2018. Combined with the River Fire, the Mendocino Complex burned for more than three months and was California’s largest wildfire at the time.
With trained staff, modern cameras and traditional fire detection equipment working together, the rebuilt lookout is once again scanning Northern California’s mountains for the earliest signs of wildfire.