Colby Mountain Fire Lookout stands quiet above the ridge in Lassen National Forest, a reminder of decades of watchful wildfire detection. Photo courtesy of Lassen National Forest

OROVILLE, CA (MPG) - The Butte County Board of Supervisors has formally opposed the closure of the Colby Mountain Fire Lookout and is urging the U.S. Forest Service to keep the long serving wildfire detection site in operation.

Board Chair Bill Connelly sent a letter Jan. 27 to Lassen National Forest Supervisor Rick Hopson, stating that although the lookout is located in Tehama County, it has long provided essential early warning coverage for Butte County. Supervisors said the tower’s role has become more important as fire risks continue to intensify across the region.

“As wildfire behavior becomes increasingly severe and unpredictable, early detection remains a cost-effective tool for protecting lives, property, critical infrastructure, and natural resources,” Connelly wrote.

The Forest Service closed the 91-year-old lookout in October, citing structural concerns and repair costs. The agency has not announced a final decision on the tower’s future, but reports indicate permanent decommissioning is under consideration.

The closure ended more than four decades of seasonal service by lookout Ken Jordan. 

According to Butte County Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Meegan Jessee, the Forest Service’s proposal is based on deferred maintenance needs, but a recent safety report found the tower safe for continued use. Jessee told supervisors that the county has received limited communication from the Forest Service about the basis for the closure, prompting questions from residents and local officials.

Communities in Butte Meadows and Forest Ranch have also opposed the move, arguing that human staffed lookouts provide detection capabilities that cameras alone cannot match. The Forest Service has installed two Alert California fire detection cameras on Colby Mountain as the primary monitoring system.

In its letter, the board said the lookout’s proven performance should remain part of the region’s early detection network.

“The Colby Mountain Fire Lookout provides a proven capability that complements rather than replaces modern fire detection technologies,” the letter stated.

The board asked the Forest Service to reconsider the lookout's permanent closure.