Restoration Work Begins on Historic Fire Towers
Work is underway this fall to upgrade safety on two central Vermont fire towers on Elmore Mountain and Spruce Mountain, vermontpublic.org reported. The Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation (FPR) is replacing steep wooden staircases with durable metal steps and adding railings to protect hikers on the historic structures.
History of the Fire Towers
Built in the first half of the 20th century, the state’s remaining lookouts trace back to a historic federal effort to suppress wildfires and create jobs. Vermont’s first fire tower went up in 1912 on Burke Mountain. Later, the Civilian Conservation Corps built the Elmore Mountain Fire Tower in 1939 following a major hurricane that downed trees across millions of acres, creating heavy fuel for forest fires. Spruce Mountain originally featured a wooden tower before the state relocated the current steel structure there in 1943 from St. Albans.
Helicopter Transport and Structural Upgrades
Because both the Elmore and Spruce summits are high and remote, helicopters must transport roughly 3,000 pounds of construction materials to the sites. Walter Opuszynski, who is overseeing the restoration work for FPR, stated that crews will paint the towers, fix detached walls, repair bullet holes, and install an interior railing system inside the cab. Both towers will also receive grounding protection against lightning strikes.
Project Costs and Recent State Renovations
Restoring the Spruce and Elmore towers will cost nearly $250,000 each, according to vermontpublic.org. The project draws on state money from timber sales and building maintenance funds, supplemented by a matching grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund. This initiative follows renovations completed last year on towers at Burke Mountain, Okemo, and Allis State Park.
Trail Closures and Construction Timelines
The towers will remain closed through the end of October while construction is underway. According to the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation, helicopter operations starting in late September will require temporary closures of local trails, tower areas, and parking lots. While Spruce Mountain’s vista remains accessible outside of landing times, officials recommend alternative hikes such as Owls Head, Silver Ledge, Little Deer, and Devil’s Hill for Spruce, and Belvidere Mountain, Worcester Mountain, or Laraway Mountain for Elmore.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Tower Renovations
Why did Vermont stop staffing the fire towers?
State lookouts routinely staffed the towers during their operational heyday, but Vermont stopped the practice in 1974.
How many fire towers remain in the state today?
Roughly 16 fire towers remain standing out of 38 lookout stations built across Vermont since 1911, according to State Division of Historic Preservation documents cited by vermontpublic.org.
Which fire towers are next on the state’s renovation list?
The Elmore and Spruce towers are two of eight towers that the state plans to renovate over the next few years.
Related reading