About the Journal
Lookouts, published by the University of Idaho Library, is the first journal dedicated to examining fire lookouts within the human environment, offering a deeper understanding of their historical, cultural, and ecological significance. It brings together scholarly essays, interviews, conference proceedings, and reports spanning architecture, the humanities, geographic information systems, and natural resource management. By fostering a diverse readership, the journal aims to shape policies and management strategies for fire lookouts, preserving their legacy while guiding future implementation.
Current Issue
Lookouts Issue 1
This first issue seeks to gather essays that trace the historical emergence of lookouts as a proxy for forest management. Its close engagement with the American fire lookout tradition stems from the 1st National Interdisciplinary Lookout Conference, held at the University of Idaho in April 2024. The contributors represent a wide range of perspectives on the subject, including historians, enthusiasts, practitioners, organizers, and academics. Their essays address the past, present, and future of the fire lookout, and together they reflect the breadth of the lookout community.
Editors
Michael Decker
Andrea A. Dutto
Executive Editor
Devin Becker
Advisory Board (1st NILC)
Billy Cooter
Cat House
Mike Guerin
Gary Weber
