IF YOU WANT TO BE A LOOKOUT, READ THIS FIRST

[u/triviaqueen]

Let's say you're 16 years old. Let's say you just finished playing the game "Firewatch." Let's say you live in a country other than the U.S. or Canada. And now, you want to be a lookout because it "looks neat" from what you've seen on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. And you've come here asking for advice on how to make that happen.

Well, we are generally too polite to tell you the truth right off the bat, which is that - especially if you don't already live in North America - your chances range between "unlikely" and "impossible".

The reality of the situation is that the job has been heavily romanticized ever since the invention of cell phones and social media. It's a short-term temporary seasonal position, NOT a career. It's low paying. No benefits. Ususally no unemployment. It lasts between ten weeks in northern forests to five or six months in southern deserts. The job openings are RARE because people who get the job, hold onto the job. This is what the hiring managers are looking for, not a teenager who is curious to do it a single season and then never return. The job openings are becoming RARER every year because of budget cuts, and technology making lookouts obsolete. Every summer, fewer lookouts are staffed, fewer lookouts are paid, fewer lookouts even exist. Lookouts are, sadly, becoming a relic of a bygone era.

Here's more reality: Most lookouts do not have electricity aside from what a solar panel can provide; many don't even have a cell signal; NONE have easy access to water. Some are located in the rugged boondocks with no visitors at all, others are right off the pavement and swamped with tourists. None provide an environment suitable for people addicted to daily hot showers, access to Netflix, and ordering from Door Dash. This is not a suitable place to play games online for hours uninterrupted, not even "Firewatch."

The absolute truth of the matter is that most lookouts got their jobs by knowing somebody. They either worked for the local fire crew, or volunteered on a trail crew, or got a summer appointment at Job Corps in a region where lookouts are located. Others got the job by dint of studying forestry-related topics in college.

All the nitty gritty you need to know about how to actually apply for the job is in posts pinned to this sub. Additionally, if you care to take a moment and sift through this sub's history, you will find dozens/hundreds/thousands of times this same question has been asked - and answered politely - before. There is not much anybody can add aside from what has already been said. It's been written down and recorded so you can easily access the information instead of asking us yet again.

Here is the absolutely best method of finding a job on a lookout: Visit lookouts. Talk to the personnel staffing the lookouts. Ask them questions! Find out how they got the position, find out if there are other staffed lookouts in the region, find out if they are intending to return next summer, find out the name of their boss. Talk to that boss.

Getting a job if you are unable to do this is not impossible, just harder. For that, you will need to study the material previously provided here.

Good luck and Godspeed.

[u/Mysterious_Flight_]

I think you should take Canada out of this post. Most of this information is completely inaccurate for Alberta's lookout program. For example, I dont know of a single tower without electricity. The majority of towers in my district are hooked up to the grid, those that aren't have solar and generators. Many towers have gravity fed water and hot water heaters, some are hooked up to the water grid too (hot showers, flush toilets, etc). Every single tower has cell service, we are provided with unlimited data on our work phones so we can use hotspots to have unlimited wifi. Many will watch Netflix/YouTube in the tower. My tower has starlink (so actual unlimited wifi) and this is being installed at more towers every year.

Job openings here are not particularly rare, they hire ~20 new lookouts each season. They will absolutely hire teenagers or people in their twenties, I know multiple lookouts who work as a summer job while studying in the fall/winter. You definitely don't need to know anyone in forestry to get the job, honestly that would be a conflict of interest and might make it harder to get the job. In Canada you just apply online like any other government job. Canada is actually expanding our lookout program (towers that have been closed for years are being re staffed) and we can collect EI in the off season, alongside some other benefits

One last note, do not visit random lookouts in Canada! There are a few towers (specifically the mountain tops) that get regular tourists/visitors and love it, but the vast majority of us don't appreciate unexpected guests. Bothering "bosses" during the fire season is a horrible first impression, they are busy doing their jobs, as are the lookouts. The AB Wildfire social media recently put out a post about this: "If you're out enjoying Alberta's backcountry and come across a fire lookout, please remember: these are workplaces, not tourist attractions. The job of a lookout observer is really important because they can spot wildfires early. Their work allows crews to respond quickly which helps protect communities, forests and lives. Please be respectful and give them space to do their job without interruption."

I get your sentiment, and I agree for the most part, especially for kids that aren't from North America. But I don't think its fair to spread misinformation about the reality of working as a lookout

[u/AssumptionCurious883 → u/Mysterious_Flight_]

Great post and I came to say the same points. I’m a lookout in west central Alberta on my 3rd season.

[u/[deleted] → u/Mysterious_Flight_]

So i need to move to canada

[u/JubalHarshawII → u/[deleted]]

Says so many Americans every damn day lol

[u/Apart-One4133]

Just wanted to say some things : There is other countries that uses Fire Lookout other than the U.S and Canada.

And you mentioned it being poorly paid but it's extremely well paid in Alberta. Like... Extremely well 😅. By my standards anyway. 

Also, I watch T.V and play games on a daily basis. My wife and I are playing trough the entire "Telltale's The Walking Dead" video game, it's pretty great 😏. Some I know have their music studio with them. We're connected to the grid here. 

Id agree to a degree with water but you said "NONE have easy access to water" and that's not true to Alberta. All Towers in my district have water tanks, filled every 3 weeks. These are connected to Pumps and attached to a kitchen sink. We also receive 13 or so water jugs per service and drive-in towers you can just go out and fill your own water, and also well in my particular case I have a Well, so that's unlimited water.

All in all, Canada's towers are extremely different than the rest of the world seeing as we don't live in the tower, we live in a cabin below. 

Edit : I mention Canada but really Im talking of Alberta only because I dont know what it's like in B.C 

[u/Such_Morning4459]

You're definitely way off and should not be talking for all lookouts when you obviously don't have a clue.

Many,  many lookouts do get cell service 

We're living in the age of starlink and plug and go solar, high speed internet and a lot of power to run it are available and relatively cheap

I know lookouts with 100 gallons water tanks and electric pumps that bring it up to a sink in the cab.

I know a lookout with an actual propane heated shower

I know a lookout with an electric wheelchair ramp. 

Just next time, don't speak in absolutes, there's some damn luxurious lookouts out there.

[u/Lookinforlightning]

Came here to talk about some Alberta lookouts because it is very different I feel.

My district still is vastly not connected to any grids regardless of how close to a community and grid system you are. But some districts will have many lookouts completely connected to grids, some only water or electricity. But lots of us still aren't connected in any capacity. But will have very hefty electrical set ups, and then all water brought in or collected by rain barrels.

All have cell service, we use it a lot for cross shots and just general communication. I'm at a tower that the nearest civilization is 6hours away. But still have perfect service. Starlink is also being very very slowly implemented.

You 100% do not need to know people. I honestly think it may hinder your chances. Know many wild land firefighters, patrol man, and detection aids, that are trying to get into lookout positions with little to no luck. The only people I know who previously knew people where in relationships with lookouts and had already spent months at lookout sites. They are far more looking of if you fit the position and can be taught and trusted to do as told, not who you know.

If you are going to reach out to people in hiring, don't in fire season!! Lookouts have a hard time getting needs met, past the basic resupply. Some don't hear from supervisors for months unless there is a problem. No one is going to be able to give you ins and outs of how to get ahead when it comes to hiring. Let alone remember who you are.

Well I and many lookouts will do our best to be somewhat friendly and informative. We are here to do a job and not have to cater towards people. It is also really scary being 3 hours from the nearest road, in a helicopter only site and having random people outside your gate, wanting to see your cabin, and learn you schedule. Well you may think it is cool and fine, chances are we find it most likely creepy, and somewhat terrifying.

If you are applying in Alberta also know how we get paid, and our hours, is different than American lookouts. There is no overtime, time off, sick days, you don't get two days to go resupply, or go hike for a couple days in the backcountry. You are going to stay within 30 minutes walking distance of your tower site all season.

Just the style of lookout is extremely different than the trendy stereotypical lookouts you see on the internet. The vast majority are not in the mountains!! You will most likely be in the boreal and if you don't know what that is look it up! This also means your cabin is separate from the tower.

Depending where you are and your district hazard, will greatly impact your experience. You may spend over a thousand hours in a small 30sqft octagon any where from 20-120ft above ground. You aren't cooking, or cleaning your space, or really doing anything that isn't easily portable up into the tower. You may only get a hour or two a day to do chores, and spend on the ground outside of sleeping.

I'm always happy to talk with new people on here about the job and stuff. But like OP said chances are your questions have been answered time and time again.

[u/JackleGaminh]

My gf from Belgium came over to visit me here in the US, and she wanted to see a Lookout tower so I took to one that's like the one you stay in when you play Firewatch haha. Osier Ridge Lookout is the one we went to. Got to talk to the guy running it and got to go up top and check things out. Very beautiful view and the information he gave us was really interesting.

[u/CptTeebs]

Oh so you're condescending and clueless? Great combo.

[u/daniwelllived]

I'll add this because I've had a couple high school/ college students dm me recently about the job: if you cannot take care of yourself, this is not the job for you. Before even getting to the job specific tasks, if you can't do things like keep your bedroom or dorm clean, hand wash your own dishes after cooking meals, or work independently without having to be told what to do, you have some growing up to do before applying.

I do disagree though with the part about the best way to get a job is to visit lookouts and meet them. We have nothing to do with the hiring process and I don't think anyone needs people hiking up in peak season just to ask things this subreddit has covered repeatedly. I would honestly be annoyed if I'm trying to work and someone comes up asking if I'm coming back and if they can have my job next season.

[u/Liquid-Double-Disco]

It feels pretty icky of you to assume that everyone who is interested in the job is just some moron who loves video games and can’t live without tech or conceptualize that these are secluded and inaccessible places without access to DoorDash. Jeesh.

[u/V1Polas]

As a teenager who wants to be a lookout even if I live in a foreign country and in already planning to be one I made a post some weeks ago about this and the people on this subreddit said the same exact things. I was also bamboozled by firewatch since I got this idea from there but after talking with a lookout on private and going I depth of the work, requirements, skills needed it’s really not like the game shows you. I heavily respect your work and the effort you put into it and I hope that one day I will be able to share my experience with yall

[u/CptTeebs → u/V1Polas]

Don't give up just yet. Read the other comments here.. Seems not everything's accurate, and also don't let the condescending tone get you down. Always get a second opinion, and then a third!

[u/I_H8_Celery]

This is accurate for US Federal Government Job Lookouts at least.

[u/Jeremy05_]

Getting called out in the 2nd and 3rd sentance 🙃

[u/geoff7772]

Why isn't this job done by technology now.

[u/pitamakan → u/geoff7772]

Because in this application, current technology is both more expensive and less effective. 🙄

[u/geoff7772 → u/pitamakan]

But you have to sit in a tower all day

[u/pitamakan → u/geoff7772]

So you’d rather that I sat in a cubicle all day and looked at computer screens of the same view? Seems like a lousy trade-off to me.

And remember that most lookouts do other things besides just watch for fires.