UPDATE (Sunday 3 p.m.): A brush fire on Lookout Mountain is still smoldering, but it is 100% contained, according to the National Park Service. Smoke could still be seen coming from the mountain ...

camping in a wildfire lookout tower. The big picture: The U.S. Forest Service rents dozens of its old, remote fire lookouts now that infrared tools and aircraft have replaced human eyes in most areas.

“So losing that lookout during that fire was very painful.” It seemed unlikely the lookout would be rebuilt anytime soon, if ever. But Blower was determined. He found funding and created an unlikely ...