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VOLUNTEER LOOKOUTS URGENTLY NEEDED FOR PALOMAR'S BOUCHER FIRE TOWER
UPDATE ON MATCHING FUNDS FOR PALOMAR
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ROOM WITH A VIEW: VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
FOR BOUCHER FIRE TOWER  Ever dreamed of "sitting on top of the world" in a fire tower, enjoying a commanding view --- from the surrounding mountains all the way to the ocean --- while watching over our precious woodlands for forest fires?
Volunteers
are urgently needed to staff Boucher Tower during this coming
fire season. Each volunteer would only need to commit one day per
month to this valuable service. Training sessions for new
volunteers will be on April 6 and 13.
Anyone interested can contact Curt Waite at elcariso@yahoo.com.
Curt is chairman of the San Diego - Riverside Chapter of the
Forest Fire Lookout Association (FFLA), the non-profit
organization that oversees the tower's operation and spearheaded its
restoration.
The
current tower was built in 1948 (the original version was built
in 1921) and was operated as a California Department of Forestry
fire detection point until the mid-eighties when it was taken out
of service. Over the years it fell into disrepair until there
was danger of it needing to be torn down. An agreement was signed
in November of 2011 between Cal Fire and California State Parks
transferring ownership of the structure to the park.
Boucher
Hill lookout has now been restored to its original 1948
condition through the efforts of Cal Fire, State Parks and the
Forest Fire Lookout Association (FFLA). The FFLA has restored
the interior cab (top floor) of the lookout, and will be putting
the lookout back into service as a working fire detection center this
fire season in partnership with Palomar Mountain State Park and
the Cleveland National Forest. (FFLA also operates High Point
lookout on the east side of Palomar.)
For details about volunteering as a lookout, please contact Curt Waite at elcariso@yahoo.com
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UPDATE ON MATCHING FUNDS FOR PALOMAR
This
month we submitted a proposal to Sacramento to receive matching
funds for Palomar Mountain State Park. The matching funds are to
come out of a portion of the money discovered in the Department
of Parks and Recreation's coffers last summer, and their intended
use must meet certain criteria. Because we have a pre-existing
donor agreement with State Parks to keep Palomar open, our application
will entail an amendment to our original agreement.
We
will notify you when we have finalized our revised agreement
with State Parks. This will also allow us to establish a target
for our 2013 Fund Drive, which we have postponed pending the
results of this matching fund opportunity.
In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Rick Barclay at 951-265-6385 or email Rick directly at rickbarclay92592@yahoo.com.
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Thank you!
Sincerely,
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