The towers began declining in use in 1950, replaced by improved detection, especially by aircraft.
At left is the 75-foot steel tower at Hardwood Mountain in Somerset County. It was built in 1916 with an improved tower with ladder access built in 1925.
The station looks out into Canada and fire observers often notified Canadian authorities of fires in their territory.
Officials often noted that cooperation -- between landowners, paper companies, railroads, the news media and between the U.S. and Canada -- was the most important factor in fire prevention.
