About Us
The Monterey Chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association (FFLA-Monterey) is a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to restoring, maintaining, and staffing historic fire lookouts in Monterey County. We are committed to preserving the natural beauty and ecological balance of our forests through education, conservation, and community engagement.
Who We Are
A small lookout with a big job—protecting the Central Coast, one scan at a time.
Chews Ridge Fire Lookout is an active fire detection tower perched high above the Ventana Wilderness along Tassajara Road in the Los Padres National Forest. Operated by trained volunteers with the Monterey Chapter of the Forest Fire Lookout Association (FFLA), the lookout provides 360-degree visibility over Big Sur, Carmel Valley, and surrounding backcountry. From this one unique vantage point, we watch for the first sign of smoke—because early detection saves forests, homes, and lives.
Why Lookouts Still Matter
The earliest possible warning is still one of the most powerful wildfire tools we have.
Even with today’s technology, staffed lookouts remain a vital layer of wildfire defense—especially in rugged terrain where visibility, access, and response time can make all the difference. When a volunteer spots smoke early and reports it quickly, firefighting crews gain a critical head start. That head start can mean a smaller fire, a safer response, and less damage to the landscapes and communities we all love.
Volunteer-Powered, Season After Season
Trained community members show up, climb up, and keep watch.
Chews Ridge is staffed entirely by volunteers—more than 25 people each year—who commit their time to training, shifts, and the responsibility of being the eyes on the ridge. Each volunteer brings focus, care, and a deep respect for the place we’re protecting. It’s meaningful work: quiet, steady, and deeply connected to community safety and land stewardship.
What We're Protecting
Wild places, local communities, and a way of life shaped by the forest.
The Los Padres National Forest and Ventana Wilderness are extraordinary—steep canyons, redwood groves, chaparral ridges, wildlife habitat, and beloved recreation routes. They’re also increasingly vulnerable to severe wildfire. Chews Ridge helps safeguard these landscapes and the people who live, work, and visit nearby—from Big Sur and Carmel Valley to the broader Central Coast.
Become a Volunteer Lookout
Train with our team, then claim a shift and help protect the forest.
Becoming a trained lookout is a meaningful way to serve the forest and our community—one shift at a time. You’ll start with a simple application, complete a brief online orientation, then join us on-site for hands-on tower training (operations, safety, communication, and visitor support). Once you’re signed off, you can claim shifts on the calendar and volunteer confidently with ongoing support from the CRLO team.
Donate to Support
the Lookouts
Your gift keeps the towers staffed, safe, and ready for the season ahead.
Every dollar you give helps maintain our lookout sites, support volunteer training, and cover the essentials that keep tower operations running—tools, supplies, repairs, and improvements that protect these historic spaces and the people who serve in them. If you believe in community-powered stewardship and a safer, more informed backcountry, we’d be grateful for your support—please visit our fundraising page to donate today.