A Different Kind of Fire Watch

When the Dorset Fire Tower was built, it's purpose was to watch for fires. Hence the name.

A series of these towers dotted the northern landscape. Rangers scanned the horizon for the telltale smoke from forest fires.  Those were the days before cell phones, before satellite images, before all the doo-dads we have now that can let us know if there is something out there burning up the woods.  The tower at Dorset was built in 1922. The original external ladder that lead to the top was 82 feet high. In 1967 a new Tower was constructed, complete with the current internal stairway. It should make you feel safer as you ascend...  

Forest fires, often started by lightning, are a natural occurence. Forest fires started by the carelessness of humans, no so much.  Did you know that under the Forest Fires Prevention Act, during a Fire Ban you can't smoke within 300 metres of a forest? Of course you didn't. And I'm willing to bet that most smokers wouldn't abide by that even if they did know.  But I digress...

The point is that the Fire Tower at Dorset no longer serves to provide early warning for burning trees.  It now provides a platform to witness the incredible blaze of colour that we enjoy up here at this time of year.

This was the view from the Tower this past week.  It should make you say 'Wow'. It should also make you think you should be getting yourself up here to see it for yourself. The autumn colours in Muskoka are among the wonders of the world.

And when you are here, be sure to visit the Visitor Centre in Algonquin Park. There you will find the original Ranger's Tower from the Dorset Fire Tower, the place where the rangers spent their days scanning the horizon with binoculars.  It's worth the trip.