The goal of this project is to take down an old fire lookout tower at dutchman butte and build a new, stronger 80-foot metal tower in the same spot

The U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management (BLM) awarded Douglas Forest Protective Association a $204,150 cooperative agreement on September 19, 2025, under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act Title II Special Projects program (CFDA 15.234). The award funds the replacement of an aging fire lookout tower at Dutchman Butte in Oregon with a new 80-foot metal tower equipped with advanced wildfire detection technology. The project deliverables include a fully operational smoke detection camera system, a solar-powered communications infrastructure with radios and satellite dishes capable of transmitting real-time data to the control center in Roseburg, Oregon, and integration into the regional wildfire detection network. Scheduled for completion by September 30, 2027, the project is being executed in three phases: planning and procurement (partnering with Valmont Towers for tower design and Envirovisions Solutions for camera systems), construction and foundation work (subcontracted to ACE Communications Services), and equipment installation managed by DFPA staff.

The project directly supports early wildfire detection and response across public and private lands in Douglas County, benefiting firefighters, emergency crews, local communities, landowners, and public land management agencies including the BLM and Douglas Forest Protective Association. By improving situational awareness of wildfire threats, the tower infrastructure enhances forest protection and community safety while providing critical data to emergency responders and land management officials throughout the region.

Activities

The project will happen in three phases:1) planning and getting materials work with companies like valmont towers (for tower design) and envirovisions solutions (for cameras and software), buy radios and solar equipment online at the best price building the tower and foundation 2) ACE communications services will build the base, install safety systems, and put up the tower and 3) installing equipment: dfpa staff will install the camera, radios, dishes, solar panels, and a small shelter for the equipment. Once finished, the tower will be part of a larger system of smoke detection cameras that help spot wildfires across public and private lands.expected deliverables: a new 80-foot metal tower with a working smoke detection camera solar-powered system with radios and dishes to send data to the control center connection to the larger wildfire detection network andimproved fire protection for forests, homes, and businesses in the area.

Intended beneficiaries

Firefighters and emergency crews, who will get faster alerts about wildfires local communities and landowners, who will be better protected from fire dfpa and BLM, who will have better tools to manage and protect public lands and the public, who benefit from safer forests and quicker fire response.