The mission of the Division of Forestry Fire Management Program is to provide leadership in wildfire management by providing training, equipment and technical assistance.


Program Administrator:
Michael Bowden
614-265-1088


Federal Excess Property & VFA Grants Program Coordinator: Rick Maier
740-774-1596 ext 7


Division of Forestry
2045 Morse Rd.
Building H1.
Columbus, OH 43229

forestry logo

 

RELATED INFORMATION

OHIO Fire Towers
location, latitude, longitude, elevation, manufacturer and height of Ohio towers

FFLA site
Forest Fire Lookout Association

Lookout Information
Lookout Rentals, Tower Hosts, Tower Sales, US Register and World Register

Pictures and Discussion

NHLR site
National Historic Lookout Register

Poster (pdf)
Ohio Forest Fire Tower Restoration Program Poster

Mohican Fire Tower

Copperhead Fire Tower

Ohio Forest Fire Lookout Association


The Ohio FFLA, a chapter affiliate of the national Forest Fire Lookout Association, has started a fundraiser to help refurbish the remaining eight state owned fire towers still standing.

Joining Ohio FFLA
To become a member of the Ohio Forest Fire Lookout Association, go to http://www.firelookout.org/ and navigate to “Joining FFLA”. Be sure to specify Ohio as the chapter that you wish to join. If you have questions, contact Steve W. Klan

Collectable Patches Being Issued
The Ohio FFLA chapter has issued Smokey Bear/Fire tower collectable patches. At present there are plans to issue eight patches for this series. Each patch will have the Smokey Bear image, and will bear the name of the respective tower and the forest that it stands in. To purchase collectable Fire tower patches, contact Steve W. Klan.

In addition to selling the patches to raise funds, donations are also encouraged from private sources such as individuals or corporate sponsors who are interested in saving these historical treasures. All donations are tax deductible, as the Ohio FFLA is a not for profit organization (501c3).

Ohio Fire Lookout Tower Facts

  • First fire tower was built in 1924, Copperhead Tower, Shawnee State Forest (still standing).
  • Tallest towers were 100 feet, three were built, and two remain standing, at Blue Rock and Sugar Grove.
  • Total number of fire towers once standing = 40.
  • Number of towers that remain on state owned property = 8.
  • Total number of towers still remaining in the state = 20.
  • One tower remains on federal property (Wayne National Forest).
  • Most towers, when closed in the late 1970’s, were dismantled and sold for scrap metal. Those that were on leased lands were reverted to the property owners, becoming trash or treasures for them.
  • Mohican Fire Tower reopened to the public in October 2005.

Ohio Forest Fire Lookout Association

  • First fire tower was built in 1924, Copperhead Tower, Shawnee State Forest (still standing).
  • Tallest towers were 100 feet, three were built, and two remain standing, at Blue Rock and Sugar Grove.
  • Total number of fire towers once standing = 40.
  • Number of towers that remain on state owned property = 8.
  • Total number of towers still remaining in the state = 20.
  • One tower remains on federal property (Wayne National Forest).
  • Most towers, when closed in the late 1970’s, were dismantled and sold for scrap metal. Those that were on leased lands were reverted to the property owners, becoming trash or treasures for them.
  • Mohican Fire Tower reopened to the public in October 2005.