Home / Environment / Last B.C. Fire Lookout Faces Obsolete Future
Last B.C. Fire Lookout Faces Obsolete Future
23 May
Summary
- A veteran fire-watcher is working his last summer on duty.
- Modern technology and public reporting have replaced fire towers.
- The lookout cherishes nature and solitude in his final season.
Bart Vanderlinde, a fire-watcher with over 50 years of service, is spending what is likely his last summer in a remote B.C. tower. His days are spent scanning the horizon for smoke, a duty soon to be obsolete. By 2025, most of B.C.'s watchtowers, once a network of over 300, have been decommissioned.
Technological advancements, including aerial detection and improved public reporting, have replaced these solitary observers. Vanderlinde's routine highlights the resourcefulness and self-sufficiency required for this isolated profession. He reflects on his long career, which included directing air tankers, and his deep enjoyment of observing nature.
As one of the last practitioners of this dying craft, Vanderlinde finds himself in moments of reflection. He will most miss the simple act of being outdoors and watching the world. His story captures the human element of aging and the quiet dignity of a lifelong observer.
