Life as the Last Fire Lookout
2,453,574
Published 2023-07-02
Huge thanks to Eric Matt for helping to shoot this video: www.instagram.com/ericmattt/
Special thanks:
Russ Dalton
Ruth Fremson
🎵 Music I use for my videos (2 additional months free with this link): geni.us/aidinartlist
🎧 Sound effects I use for my videos: bit.ly/2WI2aJ7
🎥 Stock footage I use for my videos (additional two months free): bit.ly/307JPqG
Become a channel member to access raw footage and extended tutorials: youtube.com/channel/UCcOTVI8YJJud1A6aRYrV4sg/join
📧 Contact Me: [email protected]
📸 Instagram: www.instagram.com/aidinrobbins
đź“· Gear I used to make this video:
Main camera: geni.us/aidins5
Light: geni.us/aidin120dii
Softbox: geni.us/aidinsoftbox
Drone: geni.us/aidinair2s
Camera bag: geni.us/aidinbag2
Sigma 14mm f/1.8: geni.us/aidin14mm
Sigma 20mm f/1.4: geni.us/aidin20mm
Sigma 35mm f/1.4: geni.us/aidin35mm
Panasonic 70-200 f/2.8: geni.us/aidin70200
SSD: geni.us/aidinssd
ND Filters: geni.us/aidinnds
Microphone: geni.us/aidinmic2
Tripod: geni.us/aidintripod2
Hard Drives: geni.us/aidindrives
FULL KIT: kit.co/aidinrobbins
Further Reading:
Timothy Egan - The Big Burn: www.timothyeganbooks.com/the-big-burn
Forest Service - 1910 Fire: www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb544…
Forest Service - Fire Towers: www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r1/recreation/?cid=fsp5_030…
NPR: www.npr.org/2019/09/15/749547034/a-fire-lookout-on…
New York Times - Russ Dalton: www.nytimes.com/2019/09/28/us/fire-lookout-tower-w…
Images:
University of Idaho: www.lib.uidaho.edu/digital/bigburn/
National Archives: catalog.archives.gov/id/148728218
catalog.archives.gov/id/6883311
catalog.archives.gov/id/26467199
catalog.archives.gov/id/7003064
catalog.archives.gov/id/7106751
catalog.archives.gov/id/7002141
Fire lookouts - National Archives: catalog.archives.gov/id/7105267
catalog.archives.gov/id/7105271
catalog.archives.gov/id/7105318
catalog.archives.gov/id/7105319
catalog.archives.gov/id/7105324
catalog.archives.gov/id/7105396
catalog.archives.gov/id/7105334
catalog.archives.gov/id/7105328
catalog.archives.gov/id/7105579
Fire Lookouts - Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.wa0561.photos?st=gallery
www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ca1503.photos?st=gallery
www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.wa0598.photos?st=gallery
www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.wa0287.photos?st=gallery
www.loc.gov/resource/hhh.ca1503.photos?st=gallery
US Forest Service
Footage:
National Archives: catalog.archives.gov/id/7115
catalog.archives.gov/id/7166
catalog.archives.gov/id/7272
catalog.archives.gov/id/12810
catalog.archives.gov/id/23697
catalog.archives.gov/id/2151
catalog.archives.gov/id/2158
catalog.archives.gov/id/2304
Graphics:
Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/resource/g3902p.ct009704/?r=-0.011,0.0…
www.loc.gov/resource/g3902n.ct009713/?r=-0.054,-0.…
Articles:
1910 fire: www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman/126…
www.newspapers.com/article/the-idaho-statesman/126…
www.newspapers.com/article/los-angeles-evening-pos…
Lake/campground: www.newspapers.com/article/the-columbian/126408836…
www.newspapers.com/article/the-news-tribune/126409…
www.newspapers.com/article/tri-city-herald/1264091…
Forest Service: www.newspapers.com/article/record-journal/12639654…
www.newspapers.com/article/albuquerque-journal/126…
www.newspapers.com/article/salem-herald-advocate/1…
www.newspapers.com/article/the-ogden-standard/1263…
www.newspapers.com/article/the-spokesman-review/12…
www.newspapers.com/article/the-salt-lake-tribune/1…
www.newspapers.com/article/casper-star-tribune/126…
Smokies tower restoration: www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sent…
www.newspapers.com/article/the-knoxville-news-sent…
Track list:
Hannah Parrott - Sacred Rhythm
Makeup and Vanity Set - Father / Son
Tony Anderson - In the Distance
Greg Thomas - Here We Are
Jacob Lavallee - The Vanishing Point
Tony Anderson - Nocturne in Paris
0:00 - Intro
1:46 - The Great Fire
4:25 - Journey to the Lookout
6:18 - The Lookout
12:02 - Lookouts Today
The links above are affiliate links, from which I gain a small monetary compensation when purchases are made. They help keep the lights
All Comments (21)
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This is my uncle Russ. As long as I can remember he’s been doing this and I always follow his Facebook posts and other things to see what he’s up to. I showed this to my dad-his brother- and he had no idea this documentary was made nor did I. This is an incredible video and I appreciate you shining light on this badass of a man
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Dude seems like a chill guy, I wonder if he has ever seen anything unusual going on in those woods. I think the towers should be preserved for future history.
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I put myself through university by working 4 seasons as a fire lookout in eastern WA state. Best job ever - getting paid to look out the window and what a view!!! So grateful to have had that experience.
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First time here, this is like honestly movie style quality filming, really enjoyed it. đź‘Ť
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Ever since I played Firewatch the game this job has always played around in my mind and it sounds amazing to be able to live by yourself in nature when you need a break from chaotic cities and things which clutter your life up.
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These visuals are amazing
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If you guys like horror, yall should try Fears to Fathom: Ironbark Lookout. Its literally a park ranger that is looking out for fires but something ominous is going on in the forest. Very scary.
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don't fall in love with your supervisor that you never met over a radio.
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my guy playing firewatch irl, or are you being a firewatchman in the game?
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Your use of black and white imagery when Russ is recalling his history like flashes of his memory is superb attention to detail and really added to his story. Really ❤ your storytelling.
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Bro in ironbark Lookout
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Fears of fathom ???
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Great story . Here in San Diego California we lost an Unsung Hero named Norm Mitchel about 5-6 years back who did Fire lookout out at the old “ Los Pinos” lookout tower About 50 miles or so East of Downtown. Norm was my friend and worked there tirelessly for over 25 years , and had stories & log book entries of visits from people his whole career. He was an enigmatic figure there & anyone who he met became his friend , and Norm had MANY . He is missed by those who knew him as he passed away suddenly one year , and the tower has pretty much fallen into nowhere near its former glory as the Forest service doesn’t man it hardly anymore that I can tell at least , and it needs some repairs , things that Norm did willingly & as far as I knew out of his own pocket as he loved his job & took pride in his work , and it showed. Your guy here in this video immediately reminded me of Norm , and I wanted to say “ Thank you , for doing this service , and for all you do “ Rest In Peace , Norm Mitchel.
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Fears to fathom irl
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fears to fathom flashback
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"This land is worth more than the industries that want it." -- so true, and wonderfully said
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fears to fathom irl
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fears to fathom episode 4 typa shi
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Fears to Fathom irl
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As someone from the UK where we have nothing like lookouts it's something I've always been super fascinated by (as many people I was first introduced to them by the game Firewatch and have just had a fascination with them ever since!) and will definitely be one of the things I hope to see when I do eventually visit America