MILFORD – As published in 1988: Don Mason has climbed the stairs to the top of the Federal Hill Fire Tower for the past seven years. This year the tower will close early, on Oct. 4. It is expected to reopen next spring.

PRESENT DAY – According to nh.gov, Federal Hill is one of fifteen statewide fire lookout towers maintained by the NH Division of Forests & Lands. On average, New Hampshire experiences 250 wildfires each year, which burn an average of 250 acres. Another 200-300 illegal fires occur each year that are extinguished before they develop into a wildfire.