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Indispensable fire towers

Sepia photograph: tall metal fire tower, winter forest, bare trees. Top of the tower: small square cabin with windows, an observer can be seen climbing the structure. Snow-covered ground, a few conifers. Clear, uniform sky. Decorative border.

Archives de la Côte-du-Sud, Noël Blanchet Collection.

The first fire towers appeared in the early 1910s. Built of steel, they could reach a height of 25 metres and were topped with an octagonal cabin 2 metres in diameter. A fire ranger, equipped with binoculars, could have a 360-degree view of the territory.