As you are likely aware, the BC Forest Discovery Centre has as part of our collection a Fire Lookout Tower that was originally constructed on the Vancouver Pacific National Exhibition grounds as part of the BC Forest Service’s pavilion during Expo ‘67. It was moved to the Centre in 1973 where it has spent the intervening years assisting the BCFDC in its mandate to educate the public on the forest industry, specifically in this case the Forest Service and fire detection measures in the 20th century.
The tower is characteristic of utilitarian forestry structures of its era: featuring a tall, wood-framed structure with an enclosed wooden cab used for wildfire detection. These forest fire lookout towers would have been staffed through the fire season by spotters who would make continuous observations of their sight-lines and report any indications of a fire to crews who would then investigate. Now, though the function of such towers has been replaced by more modern modes of fire detection, they retain an allure that makes them excellent tools to start conversations with our visitors around fire safety and awareness.
Unfortunately, we have had to keep it closed to the public for several years as rot in the floor and walls of the cab (the enclosed part of the structure) has made it unsafe for entry. We are currently working to restore the tower to its former glory and have it ready for visitors to once again climb it this summer! This is the first step in a larger effort to re-approach the discussion around humanity’s relationship with fire in the modern era. The restored tower will serve as a platform to discuss how traditional knowledge can be interwoven with cutting edge technology to best manage the threat of wildfire in a time of ever changing climate.
