Tater Knob Fire Tower Closed

The historic Tater Knob Fire Tower in Bath County, Ky. is closed to the public after an arson fire destroyed the structure on December 3, 2008. The fire burned all of the supporting wood frame of the lookout cab underneath its metal exterior. The tower is no longer safe for visitors. Forest Service officials are uncertain at this time if the structure will be rebuilt.

A reward of $2,500 will be provided for information that leads to an arrest and conviction.

The Tater Knob Fire Tower was the last remaining fire tower on the Daniel Boone National Forest. It was built in 1934 by the Civilian Conservation Corps as a lookout for detecting forest fires. The cab of this 35-ft. tower was home to the lookout operators who staffed it during the fire season. In a space less than 200 square feet, the cab had just enough room for a wood stove, two cots, a cabinet, storage box, small table, and a stool. The all-important alidade, or fire finder, stood in the middle of the room.

The original wooden cab was reconstructed in 1959, reduced to nearly half its original size. The lookouts no longer lived in the tower. Instead, they climbed to the peak of Tater Knob every day of the fire season to watch for smoke. By the mid-1970s, aircraft became the new method for spotting forest fires. The fire towers, including Tater Knob, were abandoned from use.

In 1993, the Tater Knob Fire Tower was restored and opened to the public as a historic site and tourist attraction. The tower is currently listed on the National Historic Lookout Register.

Forest Service law enforcement officials suspect spray paint, used by vandals for graffiti, may have been used as an accelerant to start the arson fire that burned the Tater Knob Fire Tower. Anyone with information concerning this fire is encouraged to contact the U.S. Forest Service at 859-745-3100 or 606-784-6428.

Why do we care about a firetower that's no longer used for firefighting?

Lookout towers like Tater Knob are a symbol of the long, proud history of fighting forest fires. These towers remind the public of the hard work and sacrifices that firefighters made, and continue to make, in protecting forests and nearby homes, farms, and towns from wildfires.

Cumberland Ranger District
2375 KY 801 South
Morehead, KY 40351

(606) 784-6428

Title: Tater Knob Fire Tower
Last Updated: December 23, 2008