Bearfort Fire Tower
US 244, NJ 6
Lookout Details
| Registry Numbers | US 244, NJ 6 (view other lookouts in United States, New Jersey) |
| Date Registered | December 15, 1997 |
| Location |
Newark Watershed (Pequannock Watershed) Passaic County, New Jersey |
| Coordinates |
N 41° 06.254' W 074° 25.044' (view using Google Maps) N 41° 06' 15" W 074° 25' 03" N 41.104233° W 074.417400° |
| Elevation | 1,331 ft (406 m) |
| Built | 1934 |
| Administered by | New Jersey Forest Fire Service |
| Cooperators | New Jersey Forest Fire Service |
Description
The original lookout on Bearfort Mountain -- circa 1880 -- was a wooden platform or tree lookout. An iron frame tower was built in 1909 by the Newark, NJ Watershed Department, and replaced with a 50’ wooden tower which burned in 1932. A tree platform was used until the current 68’ steel tower was built in 1934. It is a McClintock-Marshall design and may have been supplied by Aermotor under contract. Bearfort remains an active lookout with over a century of service.
Map
Change Basemap
Photos
November 2013 photo by Jan Braidech
Photo of previous wooden tower in 1925
Fire finder
View from tower
Visit Reports
April 15, 2016: Jan Braidech
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | Yes |
| Shutters OK? | Yes |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | No Response |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | I think one pane in the cabin was broken or out. We visited Matt Drake who works part-time for the FFS. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | No |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? |
Yes
Matt Drake was very knowledgeable about his position and his father at one time manned Milton fire tower, etc. Matt pointed out Milton as the sun was reflecting off the windows of its cabin. This is my favorite tower. Well, I do live in the area... so I am a bit biased.
|
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | No Response |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? | No Response |
Other Comments |
|
| Comments | Love the paint job. It looks like more than the red and white one usually sees in northern NJ. It was like the color of a orange/red flame. Nice compliment to the tower. |
July 18, 2007: Bob Spear FFLA
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | Yes |
| Shutters OK? | No Response |
| Condition of wood OK? | No Response |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | No Response |
| Comments: | This is an addition to the previous report (below): I.e. Inside the observation cab a mess. Hot Rod magazines, empty soda bottles etc and other junk thrown all over. Binnoculars left out, radio attenna left plugged in (lightening damage) Inside of cab needs cleaning and re painting badly and general clean up. Firefinder is NOT in center of cab- also IS NOT set up properly (It's in reverse position) Alidade itself is broken and in bad condition. Area map needs replacing- is old and dirty- No shades on windows lets full sun come through. The place IS NOT a credit to the good name of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service and was an embarrasment to bring representatives of the FFLA to. |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
| Comments: | Fire tower needs a general clean up inside & out. Grounds are unkempt with tall grass and weeds and paint is getting bad although the stairs have been replaced by metal and the roof is a new stainless steel. Also- a stupid carving in the footing that says "Here lies Joe Bearfort......."- footings had been redone with new concrete a short while ago. This is a Section 2 fire tower- although traditionaly, Section 5 personnel were to take care of it- obviously some better supervision needed here by Division office. |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | No |
| Comments? | Bearfort is on the NHLR and the sign had been posted at one time but has since vanished. The tower is in a highly visited area with several hiking trails in the Newark Watershed area. |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? | Yes |
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | No Response |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? |
No Response
If NJFFS needs help keeping the place clean- area FFLA members are willing to help out.
|
May 1, 2007: Bob Spear
Condition |
|
| Needs paint? | Yes |
| Shutters OK? | No Response |
| Condition of wood OK? | Yes |
| Stairs OK? | Yes |
| Glass intact? | Yes |
| Good condition? | Yes |
| Comments: | Needs attention but otherwise in good shape <br />NJ is in progress of upgrading all its fire towers |
Electronics and Enroachments |
|
| Are electronic sites enroaching on tower? | No |
Access and Signs |
|
| NHLR sign posted? | No |
| Directions to tower signed? | No |
Staffing |
|
| Staffed? | Yes |
Opportunities for Volunteer Support |
|
| Volunteers staffing opportunities? | No Response |
| Volunteer maintenance opportunities? | No Response |