This site is dedicated to the fire towers in Michigan. During most of the twentieth century, Michigan had over 250 fire towers located throughout the state. Today, there are less than 25 remaining.

Michigan’s first fire tower was constructed in Higgins Lake in 1913. The majority of towers were built in the 1920’s and 1930’s. Towers were used to spot fires within Michigan’s private, State and Federal Forest lands. They peaked in the 1950’s with 205 towers in simultaneous use.

In 1962, Michigan began using aircraft for aerial surveillance. During this time, the use of fire towers like the one to the left began to be used less and less. The tower shown here is the Seney Wildlife Refuge Tower.

In 1954, this tower was moved to its present location from the nearby city of Germfask. Today, it is still standing and can be seen directly behind the visitors center on the Refuge. Although it is not open to the public, it is the finest example of the Michigan’s remaining original towers.

If you have any information or photographs of Michigan’s fire towers, please contact me using the contact page above.