The Fire Lookouts & Aircraft Warning Service Observation Posts of the Los Padres National Forest

Thursday, October 16, 6:30pm
Faulkner Gallery – Santa Barbara Public Library
40 East Anapamu St., Santa Barbara, CA

This talk will cover the history and usage of the Fire Lookouts in the mountains of Los Padres National Forest, from the first Lookout on Zaca Peak to the few that still remain standing today. The talk will also cover the later and, in some cases, joint use of the lookouts as AWS Observation Posts during World War II for the purpose of detecting and reporting the presence of enemy aircraft.

Join Bob Burtness as he shares images and stories of these unique backcountry structures. A Santa Barbara native, Bob is an avid outdoorsman, Volunteer Wilderness Ranger, and history lover. He is the author of The Santa Barbara B-24 Disasters: A Chain of Tragedies Across Air, Land & Sea, as well as the classic backcountry guidebook, A Camper’s Guide to the Tri-county Area: Santa Barbara, Ventura, San Luis Obispo.

This free presentation is part of the Trail Talks series hosted by the Santa Barbara Public Library.

The next talk in the series is Thursday, November 20, The Los Padres from Above, an Aerial Perspective with Bill Dewey