But one of the most analog among them remains relevant: the fire lookout tower. Perched atop hillsides or stilts, fire lookout towers are still effective at alerting officials of a potential blaze.

Many towers have been removed or have been converted to rental cabins. Others still exist but sit empty. Though the footprint of the fire lookout system has atrophied, Decker said they remain an ...

Part of Cape May Point State Park, the World War II Lookout Tower – officially known as Fire Control Tower No. 23 – was built in 1942 and is New Jersey's last restorable tower from World War II.