Good Deeds in Action: ALTA Grant Helps Preserve Historic Fire Lookout
August 27, 2026
A $5,000 grant from the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation helped volunteers preserve a piece of Pacific Northwest history while demonstrating the power of community service and teamwork.
The grant supported the refurbishment and re-roofing of Kelly Butte Fire Lookout, a 75-year-old structure located in Washington state's Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. Owned by the U.S. Forest Service and maintained by the Snoqualmie Fire Lookouts Association (SFLA), the lookout remains part of a network of historic fire detection sites that volunteers work to preserve and operate. The project was made possible in part through funding from the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation, which awarded the organization a $5,000 grant to help replace the aging roof.
"The grant made this possible," said John Hearing, chairperson of the Snoqualmie Fire Lookouts Association. "We would have had a tough time completing this project without the support."
Planning for the project began in 2025 after volunteers determined the roof installed in 2010 had reached the end of its useful life. Rather than relying solely on fundraising, SFLA member Erin Stines, Pacific Northwest underwriting counsel for Westcor Land Title Insurance Co., identified the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation grant opportunity and spearheaded the application process that ultimately secured funding for the effort.
For Stines, the project was more than a preservation effort. As a resident of the Snoqualmie Ranger District, she sees firsthand the importance of wildfire detection and prevention in protecting local communities and forestlands. A member of the Snoqualmie Fire Lookouts Association for three years, Stines has volunteered at lookout towers, monitored for wildfires and helped educate visitors about the history and significance of forest fire management. Through her volunteer service, she has completed training in fire detection, emergency response and medical assistance, further supporting the association's mission of safeguarding both people and public lands.
The project presented unique logistical challenges. Nearly 1,000 pounds of roofing materials—including cedar shakes, roofing paper, safety harnesses, lanyards and nails—had to be transported approximately two miles up a mountain trail with a 1,200-foot elevation gain.
Instead of using a helicopter to deliver the supplies, volunteers turned the challenge into a community service opportunity. A group of scouts and volunteers led a project that included preparing roofing materials, pre-drilling cedar shakes to reduce splitting and coordinating volunteers to transport supplies to the remote site. More than 50 volunteers from Scouting America, SFLA and the surrounding community participated in the effort, moving all of the materials onto the trail within 90 minutes.
Before work began, volunteers constructed a roof simulator and conducted training sessions to teach participants the techniques required to install cedar shake roofing on a historic structure. Community members also donated tools and equipment to support the project.
Roofing work began Aug. 1 under less-than-ideal conditions. Volunteers faced cold temperatures, rain, fog and gusty winds during much of the four-day project. Despite the weather, crews removed the deteriorating roof, repaired damaged roof boards, installed roofing paper and cedar breather materials, and carefully applied new cedar shakes. When workers discovered rotten roof boards, they were able to replace them using spare materials stored beneath the lookout.
By Aug. 4, volunteers had installed the final cedar shakes, reattached the lookout's lightning protection system and completed cleanup efforts around the site. Old shingles were collected and bagged for hikers and visitors to help carry down the mountain, further engaging the community in the preservation effort.
In total, 69 volunteers contributed approximately 693 hours to the project, including hauling materials, preparing supplies and completing the roofing work.
For the Snoqualmie Fire Lookouts Association, the completed roof represents far more than a successful construction project. It ensures that Kelly Butte Fire Lookout can continue serving as a historic landmark and operational lookout for years to come.
Since its founding in 2020, the Snoqualmie Fire Lookouts Association has helped detect an average of five to 10 wildfires annually and welcomed approximately 6,000 visitors in 2024. Volunteers receive training in fire spotting, trail patrol, first aid and public education, helping protect thousands of acres of forestland and nearby communities.
For the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation, it is another example of how grants can help local organizations make a lasting impact in their communities—whether that means supporting housing initiatives, strengthening neighborhoods or, in this case, preserving an important piece of America's public lands heritage. The ALTA Good Deeds Foundation has awarded $1.5 million in grants to nonprofit organizations in 47 states and the District of Columbia, supporting causes that strengthen families, promote housing stability, and enrich communities.
"The project was completed in less time than anticipated, cost less than projected and with zero injuries," the association reported. Most importantly, thanks to the partnership between dedicated volunteers and the ALTA Good Deeds Foundation, Kelly Butte Fire Lookout now stands ready for its next chapter.
Contact ALTA at 202-296-3671 or [email protected].