BIG PINEY, Wyo. — As part of the firefighting effort on the Horse Fire, the historic Prospect Peak Lookout tower was wrapped in a protective material to shield it from the flames burning approximately 2 miles west of the structure, according to Bridger-Teton National Forest (BTNF).
As of Thursday, June 19, the Horse Fire on BTNF’s Big Piney Ranger District is burning on 1,465 acres of heavy, dry timber.
BTNF wrote via Facebook that firefighters used an aluminized structure wrap, similar to aluminum foil but much more technically superior, to deflect radiant heat and embers.
Constructed in 1941, the tower is part of a network of wildfire detection lookouts that were developed on the BTNF. While no longer in commission, the Prospect Peak Fire Lookout has been considered by the National Park Service to be one of the most intact lookouts on the BTNF.
The lookout is a four-panel ground cabin that was listed on the National Historic Lookout Register on May 10, 2022.
