Incident Name: Bertha Hill Lookout, on the Clearwater National Forest, about 35 mi NE of Orofino, ID
Date: 7/16/1964
Personnel: Maida Talbott
Age: 20
Agency/Organization: Clearwater Timber Protective Association under contract with the US Forest Service
Position: Fire lookout, firefighter
Summary: Maida Talbott, the experienced lookout at Bertha Hill, failed to check in on 7/16/1864. An air patrol sent to check on her from the air spotted her body at the bottom of the 52 foot tower from which she had apparently fallen. The wire fence surrounding the catwalk on Bertha Hill Lookout was installed due to Maida’s fall.
Photo Credit Rex Kamstra
Maida Talbot in lookout; credit Heidi Klump
Maps
Bertha Hill Lookout
{mosmap lat=’46.764263’|lon=’-115.792321’|marker=’0’|text=’Bertha Hill Lookout’}
Reports, Documentation, Lessons Learned
- Maida Talbott named as fallen
Wildlandfire.com Links:
Media Articles and Reports
Maida Talbot’s art; credit Heidi Klump
Photos, Videos, & Tributes
- Find a Grave: Maida Louise Talbott
Contributors to this article: Brett Rogers
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