Published: April 15, 2009 02:20 am  

State reduces fire tower hours State reduces fire tower hours
By Margo Sullivan
margosullivan@eagletribune.com

DERRY — On Monday, for the first time this year, Wally Eaton returned to his post high atop the fire tower off Warner Hill Road. It's an important job, his boss Brad Simpkins said, especially this year with New Hampshire's forests "full of fuel" due to tons of dead trees and limbs left by the December ice storm.

But Eaton's 19th season as a lookout will be different than his first 18. Manning the tower this year has become a balancing act for both the special deputy wardens, like Eaton, and the state Division of Forests and Lands.

On March 31, the state laid off eight full-time special deputy wardens. Asked why, Eaton barked, "Lynch. They don't want to pay the benefits."

Indeed, money is behind the move, according to Simpkins, interim director for the Division of Forests and Lands.

Strapped by a looming budget deficit, the Division of Forests and Lands decided last winter to lay off all full-time fire tower wardens and offer them part-time work — strictly on days when the risk of fire is greatest.

"We're hoping that's still enough to protect forests, structures and people," Simpkins said.

The layoffs took effect March 31.

This means the 15 state-run fire towers — a 16th tower is run by Moultonborough — will not go completely blind this summer, Simpkins said.

"The only times towers won't be staffed will be during low and moderate" fire danger days, he said.

Many of the towers were already manned by part-time wardens. Although the budget problems were not so severe in past years, there were funding issues. As full-time wardens left the job, they were replaced with part-timers, Simpkins said.

"We wanted to have money to pay overtime, if we had to," he said.

The state also has an air patrol on the lookout for fires, he said.

In an interview at the tower yesterday, Eaton said he checks the computer at 6:30 a.m. to find out how the state has scored the day's fire danger. If he sees it's Class 3 or above, he goes to work.

Wardens now work seven-hour shifts, without benefits. Eaton, 66, will work the 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. shift.

He used to work a 40-hour week, with benefits, from April until the end of October. This is the first time he's dealt with a layoff, he said. He received the letter from the state about a month ago.

Derry fire Chief George Klauber said the fire tower has helped the local department in past situations.

Eaton, a former East Derry firefighter, said the Derry tower is the southernmost in New Hampshire. From his perch, he can typically see Portsmouth, York, Maine, the Kearsarge and Monadnock regions of New Hampshire, and Boston.

In an emergency, he also communicates with Bay State fire towers. The tower is stocked with radios, scanners and a computer with a Global Positioning System.

"I can put a fire right down to your driveway," he said.

Eaton said this is the most dangerous time of year for fires. He believes the towers do help firefighters stay in control of dangerous situations.

"I call if I see any smoke," he said. "The best time to control a fire is when it's small."