Fire lookouts were often built in the most remote, rugged, and beautiful corners of the country — places that don’t always appear neatly on a modern map. When I started FireLookout.ca, one of my goals was to make these locations easier to explore and share, without losing the sense of adventure that comes with finding them.
That’s why we’ve integrated What3Words into the site.
What3Words divides the entire world into 3m x 3m squares and gives each square a unique three-word address — like ///filled.count.soap. It’s a simple, precise way to describe a location, even deep in the bush or miles from the nearest road. For our purposes, it’s a perfect fit.
Now, each lookout listing on FireLookout.ca includes a What3Words coordinate. It’s not just a pin on a map — it’s an easy, human-friendly way to find exactly where that tower once stood (or still stands). Whether you’re heading out on foot, planning a trip, or just exploring from home, you can click the link and open the exact spot in your mapping app.
Of course, coordinates are a guide only — they’re based on the best available data and submissions from our community, but accuracy can vary, especially for older or lost lookouts. Still, combining historical records, maps, and What3Words helps bring us closer than ever to pinpointing these historic sites.
This is just one more way FireLookout.ca continues to blend technology and history — keeping the legacy of fire detection alive, one lookout at a time.
Fire lookouts were often built in the most remote, rugged, and beautiful corners of the country — places that don’t always appear neatly on a modern map. When I started FireLookout.ca, one of my goals was to make these locations easier to explore and share, without losing the sense of adventure that comes with finding them.
That’s why we’ve integrated What3Words into the site.
What3Words divides the entire world into 3m x 3m squares and gives each square a unique three-word address — like ///filled.count.soap. It’s a simple, precise way to describe a location, even deep in the bush or miles from the nearest road. For our purposes, it’s a perfect fit.
Now, each lookout listing on FireLookout.ca includes a What3Words coordinate. It’s not just a pin on a map — it’s an easy, human-friendly way to find exactly where that tower once stood (or still stands). Whether you’re heading out on foot, planning a trip, or just exploring from home, you can click the link and open the exact spot in your mapping app.
Of course, coordinates are a guide only — they’re based on the best available data and submissions from our community, but accuracy can vary, especially for older or lost lookouts. Still, combining historical records, maps, and What3Words helps bring us closer than ever to pinpointing these historic sites.
This is just one more way FireLookout.ca continues to blend technology and history — keeping the legacy of fire detection alive, one lookout at a time.