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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Lake County Grand Jury • 2020-2021

Mt. Konocti Fire Tower – Looking Out for You

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings 4 findings

F1 Page 35

There remains an important role for the human intelligence and visual acuity of fire tower lookouts in detecting wildland fires at an early stage.

F2 Page 35

The FFLA strives to raise awareness and support for lookout towers, and the California Central Western Region has gone to great lengths to try to stimulate support for Mt. Konocti.

F3 Page 35

The Konocti Fire Tower has been granted historic designation at both the Federal and State levels.

F4 Page 35

Repairs to the Konocti Fire Tower remain in limbo as no preliminary engineering survey has occurred, and the Tower appears to have been deemed obsolete by its operating agency, CalFire. RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommendations 1

R1
Page 35

That the Board of Supervisors consider re-leasing the Tower from CAL FRE or acquiring the Tower, if the State declines to repair it and declares it “surplus property,” to add to the County Park as a tourist attraction and hiking destination and as homage to its historic significance. (F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4) RESPONSES In response to Penal Code § 933 (c), the following Response is required: Board of Supervisors (R-1) 90 days The following response is requested: CAL FIRE (South Lake County/Kelsey-Cobb 60 days 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 35 Exhibit 1 FFLA-SDRC A LOOKOUTS DAY IN THE TOWER Arrive well before the “going in service time” (Usually 9:00 AM = 0900): Open the tower and take complete weather measurements and observations 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 36 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 37 Call the U.S. Forest Service dispatch on radio and advise that tower is in service. Provide weather readings, which are forwarded to the U.S. Weather Service. 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 38 Using binoculars, conduct a careful scan of the entire visible area for smoke. Scans are conducted every 15 minutes. 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 39 When a smoke is spotted: Binoculars on Smoke Record the azimuth, using the Osborne Fire Finder Estimate the distance Identify landmarks Note fire characteristics. 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 40 Report all the information to dispatch via the radio. Monitor the fire and report updates on its status until firefighters arrive on scene. 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 41 Dispatch will sometimes call the tower and ask the lookout to verify smokes reported by the public. Questionable smokes 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 42 Record all significant events in the tower log, and submit an activity report blog entry to the lookouts’ internal website. 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 43 Lookout’s at certain locations in addition to Forest Fire Lookout duties preform as Docents: They greet visitors; answer questions; conduct tours and interpretive services. 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 44 Report significant weather developments on the radio. Fire crews arrange their positions and availability based on the potential for lightning strikes. 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 45 Report and record lightning down strikes. Monitor the area of the strike in case a wildfire erupts. Subsequent lookout shifts continue to watch these areas in case the wind blows smoldering materials into flame. 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 46 Secure all equipment and advise Dispatch that the tower is “out of service”. Turn off all radios and lock up the tower at end of shift. Begin the drive home knowing that you provided a valuable community service. 2021-2022 Lake County Civil Grand Jury Final Report Page | 47