Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association

It’s time to get ready for the 2009 season!  For anyone who is interested in serving as a Fire Lookout, either new volunteers or returning members, there are required classes to attend.  New volunteers need to attend three classes: Orientation, Interpretation/Natural History, and Operations.  Each of these classes is offered at two times to accomadate everyone’s schedules.  Returning volunteers need to attend just one Reconnect class which is also offered at two times.

The dates and location for all training is now posted on the Training page of the ANFFLA website.  Go there now and make your plans to attend!

It is with regret that I inform everyone that Dick Wagoner  passed away on July 4th 2008. Dick was diagnosed with lung cancer two weeks ago when he was admitted into the hospital with pneumonia. Dick had just turned 77 on June 24th and he and Mary celebrated their 14th wedding anniversay on July 3rd. Dick had his family by his side and his Fire Lookout hat on his head when God took him home. Dick has been with the program sence 1999 and staffed South Mount Hawkins every Monday’s for the fire season. He and Mary raised thousand’s of dollars for the rebuilding of South Mount Hawkins and Dick spent many hours with the group putting in the trail at Slide and the clearing around the Lookout when we got to the top. Dick’s stories will be missed by all but the time we have spent with him we will always have.

Mary has asked not to send flowers but to make a donation to the American Cancer Society in Dick’s name (Richard Wagoner). You can donate online at hhtp://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp follow the prompts at the top for "Donate Now"

 Services for Dick will be held at Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary on Saturday July 12th at 11:00am. It will be held at the Hill Side Chapel (gate 17) 3888 Workman Mill Rd. Whittier (562-699-0921) a reception to celebrate Dick’s life will be held at Mary’s home after the services. You are welcome to bring pictures to share with the group.

George and I want to thank everyone that came out to Celebrate the 10 year celecration of the Restoration; Grand Reopening and Staffing of Vetter Mountain Lookout. It was a cool and foggy day unlike 10 years ago, it was hot and sunny. Can not wait to see what the 20th year will bring.

Everyone is invited to come and join us in celebrating 10 years of the ANFFLA staffing the Vetter Mountain Lookout!  Ramona Mervin, the last paid lookout at Vetter Mountain, will be present to celebrate with us.

The celebration is on May 26, 2008.  The cake cutting will be at 12 noon at the base of Vetter Mountain Lookout, so be there before then!

Park at the Charlton Flats Picnic Area.  It’s a 1 to 1 1/2 mile easy walk to get to the lookout tower from there, just follow the signs.  Water will be supplied at the lookout tower.  Click here for walking directions on the U.S. Forest Service.

See you there!

June 17, 2008 at 6:30pm at Arcadia Park (under the big oak trees).  Located near the corner of Santa Anita Ave. and Huntington Blvd.  Click here for map and directions.

If you can provide something for the silent auction table please just bring it with you to the auction.  All proceeds will go directly to benefit the ANFFLA.

Potluck meal, so bring some food to share!  Paper products and drinks will be supplied.

It is with regret that I inform everyone that Holly Michels has lost her 2 ½ year battle with cancer.  Holly passed away Tuesday afternoon with her family at her side.  Holly and her husband Arnie have been lookouts for 9 years at Vetter Mountain.  Holly’s services will be held Friday, May 9th at 1:00 pm at Mount Sinai, 5950 Forest Lawn Dr., Burbank (across from Disney Studios).

Arnie has requested not to send flowers but a contribution be made to the American Cancer Society on behalf of Holly.

(posted on behalf of Pam Morey, ANFFLA President)

CBS-2/KCAL-9 news did a special report on the ANFFLA last night (April 29, 2008).  Check out the 1 min. 31 sec. video on their website: http://cbs2.com/video/?id=65885@kcbs.dayport.com.

Congratulations to our President and Vice-President (Pam Morey and George Morey respectively) on a job well done in front of the cameras.

The Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association is proud to announce that we have a new website!  While all of the content from our old site is here, the new site includes many new community oriented features.  We now have discussion forums where you can share fire lookout experiences, ask questions and post other information for your fellow lookouts.  We also now have an online photo gallery where you can share photos that you take while up in the lookout towers.  The online shift scheduling calendars have been significantly improved and the scheduling process is hanlded now entirely through the website.

This new website is not just for ANFFLA members though!  Anyone who is interested may join the website and participate in our online community.  With the participation of members and registered guests we can make this website one of the premier sites dedicated to fire lookouts!

If you have any questions or comments about the new website please contact the webmaster at web@anffla.org.

The 2008 Season is almost here! In preparation for re-opening the Lookouts, we have scheduled our training dates. Click here for more information.