From: Brad Eells
To all Agencies, Chiefs and Crews,
Thank you for your quick work to extinguish a vegetation fire that ignited less than 100 yards from the Boucher Hill Fire Lookout Station.
I received a report from Incident Commander and FFLA Liaison, CNF Battalion Chief Wes Ruise that the fire was quickly controlled but burned near the restroom, propane tanks and pump house very close to the lookout itself. The cause of the fire is under investigation and one civilian was injured while attempting to extinguish the blaze.
Thankfully, Palomar Mountain State Park staff had just mowed down and cleared much of the dry vegetation in the area, slowing the spread of the fire.
The potential loss of the lookout in today’s fire would have become a huge tragedy given the recent completion of a major exterior renovation. Boucher Hill is one of only four 809R 30 foot towers ever constructed to the original design. 2 have been lost to fire. The only other surviving example is Sid Ormsbee Lookout in Monterrey County. Boucher Hill was nearly lost to the 2007 Poomacha Fire. Quick work by State Parks staff saved the lookout at that time. A lookout with 9 lives…perhaps!
The Forest Fire Lookout Association looks forward to completing the renovation of Boucher Hill Fire Lookout Station and sharing it with visitors to Palomar Mountain State Park while performing its Fire Detection mission.
Thanks again to all the firefighters that helped keep the lookout safe today.
Best regards,
Brad Eells,
San Diego – Riverside Chapter Chair
Cal Fire Liaison
Forest Fire Lookout Association, Inc.
Palomar Mountain News 
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