Red Top Fire LookoutA California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Fire Lookout
Madera, Mariposa, Merced Ranger Unit
Red Top Fire Lookout
Red Top Fire Lookout was constructed in or about 1938 on one acre of land. It is located on Madrea County Parcel Number: Southwest 1/4 of Section 22, Township 9 South, Range 20 East, Coarsegold, California. The lookout is West of State Highway 41 and North of County Road 406. It is located on private property and there is no public access to the site any longer.
Very little is known about the Red Top Lookout, it's principal use was for wildland fire detection. During the Second World War it possibly was also used for an aircraft observation post, as were many of the lookouts located in this area. There seems to be no historical value to the lookout, unless it would be in the unusual shape of the structure shown below, in the September, 1990 B/W photos.
The lookout is of wood frame construction and covered with aluminum siding. It sits on a concrete foundation and is shaped somewhat like a pyramid. The cap or lookout part is square and has a pyramidal roof with tin covering. Wooden shutters shade the windows on all four sides of the lookout section. The living quarters are in the lower stories of the three story structure.
The lookouts use ended in 1985 and the tower was turned over to the property owner.
The above information was provided courtesy of Ahwahnee CDF, Ahwahnee, CA.
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