The 2023 Fire season at Buck Rock was a quiet one because of the fabulous California winter that was so long in coming and whose benefits we felt all year long. The area never got to a critical fire danger stage as fuels retained more moisture this season than most in recent history. Still, our lookouts remained steadfast and in service, not only spotting smoke – we had 3 first reports – but keeping a close eye on the prescribed and managed fires that were active in our territory.
For a slow season fire-spotting wise, we got to end with a couple of big bangs. First, the Big Stump Rx, which could be seen from all three lookouts at times. And second, and most fun, the Rabbit Fire, which was started by a lightning strike on September 30, just a few miles south of Buck Rock Lookout.
The Forest Service took good advantage of the timing and conditions and decided to “manage” the fire. In short, instead of suppressing it they encouraged it to grow and were able to get 3000 acres of good fire on the ground before it was all done.
Buck Rock Lookout was surrounded quite literally by active, controlled fire for several weeks. There was just one night that was too smokey to stay in the lookout because the hill directly south was lighting up. Precautions were taken to protect the lookout before the fire came near, with hose lays and water reservoirs set up in advance.
While watching for smoke potentially outside the fire perimeter, firewatchers on duty got quite the workout serving as a repeater on countless radio calls as firefighters on the ground, working on different sides of the fire, often could not talk directly to each other. This is what a vital communication link looks like.
In other respects, fire season looks the same each year on many counts: diligent firewatchers on duty every day, thousands of inquisitive and enthusiastic visitors, breath-taking views of the High Sierra – just to name a few. Each season our lookouts are in operation is a good one in my book.
Besides the centennial of the Buck Rock structure, 2023 also marked 24 consecutive seasons of operation since the lookout came close to being permanently shuttered in the late 1990s. My thanks and congratulations to the Buck Rock Foundation and its partnership with the Forest Service for this most worthwhile and successful endeavor.
