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| The Lookout Tower Historical Museum at Fort Missoula, Montana |
Fire lookout towers predate the United States Forest Service, founded in 1905. Many townships, private lumber companies, and state forestry organizations operated fire lookout towers on their own accord.
The Great Fire of 1910 burned 3,000,000 acres (12,000 km2) through the states of Washington, Idaho, and Montana. The smoke from this fire drifted across the country to Washington D.C. physically and politically. It caused the five-year-old Forest Service to address new policies regarding fire suppression. The fire created the modern system of fire rules, organizations, and policies. [Wikipedia]
This black and white image is a double exposure created in the camera of the tower and a burned log.