Osborne Fire Finder
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The Osborne Fire Finder is a device used by Fire Lookouts in order to triangulate the compass azimuth of smoke in order to alert fire crews to the a starting wildland fire.
The device was invented by W.B. Osborne, a United States Forest Service employee and has been in service since 1920. Many were manufactured from 1920 through 1935 but after 1975, the manufacturer Leupold & Steven, Inc. stopped production of replacement parts. With the resurgance and recovery of fire lookout towers, new Osborne devices were needed. The U.S. Forest Service, San Dimas Technology and Development Center (SDTDC) was contacted regarding the deteriorating condition of the Osborne Fire Finders housed in fire lookouts throughout the United States.
A pilot program to create new Osbornes was coordinated with manufacturer, Palmquist Tooling, Inc. and now Osborne Fire Finders are available again.
The device is used by moving the finder with the small handle on the right side of the unit, until the fire lookout can peek through a small sighting hole and view the cross hairs (made from horse hair) towards the fire. After the smoke/fire is spotted, the fire lookout notes the degrees on the compass ring located on the outer rim. Then the lookout measures the distance to the fire using the map and ruler that extends from across the Osborne.
More information
- See Fire lookout tower
- See Fire Lookout
References
- Website - [Fire Management Tech Tips] USDA Forest Service, October 2003 Document: 0351 1311=SDTDC
More Information
Palmquist Tooling, 8120 Otis St., South Gate, CA 90280 (323) 567-1479
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