TUOLUMNE COUNTY
RUSHING HILL
California Department of Forestry
November 20, 1930: "Plans are under way for the erection of a fire lookout tower for the foothill country in portions of Tuolumne, Calavaras and Stanislaus counties, according to a report by State Ranger Ed Minners. The proposed site is the top of Bib Hill, on the W.H. Rushing ranch, west of Keystone." (Plumas Independent)
March 2, 1931: "The sum of $800.00 was appropriated toward the expense of erecting a Fire Outlook Tower at Rushing Hill in Tuolumne County." (Modesto News-Herald)
April 15, 1931: "A fire lookout tower, giving protection to Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties is assured by an appropriation of $600 by the county board of supervisors on Tuesday.
A similar amount was donated by the Tuolumne board, and construction of the thirty-foot tower on Rushing Mountain, near Oakdale will start at once, according to Earl T. Barron, state fire warden.
It will be completed by May 1, and throughout the entire dry season a man will be on duty continuously, Barron said. He will have telephone connections with rural fire departments, and upon "spotting" smoke or flames will order apparatus and men to the scene.
The lookout will have a sweeping view of most of Stanislaus and a great part of Tuolumne County. His telephone will keep him in touch at all times with both rural and city fire departments.
The state will maintain the lookout, Barron said, after the tower is constructed by the counties. (Modesto News-Herald)
April 27, 1931: "Warrant for $600.00 was ordered drawn in favor of STATE DIVISION OF FORESTRY for this county's portion of erecting a fire Outlook Tower at Rushing Hill." (Modesto News-Herald)
June 26, 1931: "A twenty acre grass fire was reported Thursday morning on the Warner Beale ranch, now leased by Veranus Ellinwood of Sonora, located in the Don Pedro country. The fire was reported by Edward H. Tinnen, lookout at the newly constructed fire tower on Rushing Hill, who spotted the smoke before other lookouts were able to see it." (Modesto News-Hearld)
October 20, 1931: "The value of the lookout station at Rushing Hill and the quick results obtained in cases of fire were demonstrated yesterday when an alarm was phoned in about a fire near Knights Ferry.
A farmer in that vicinity had been given a fire permit to burn grass. No sooner had the blaze started than Ed Tinney at the lookout station discovered it and sent in the alarm. Clay Dorrah, rural fire chief, knew of the permit and did not take out the truck." (Modesto News-Herald)
July 8, 1936: "Frank Tinney, lookout at Rushing Mountain, was forced to leave his post because lightning threatened the station, according to an Associated Press dispatch from Sonora." (Oakland Tribune)
