MINIDOKA COUNTY
KIMAMA BUTTE
U.S. Grazing Service > Bureau of Land Management
8S-21E-5
8S-21E-5
July 4, 1940: "The look-out station is now completed on Baldy butte, northwest of Paul, where the look-out station attendant can observe fires throughout the entire desert north of Snake river in this area." (The Herald-Bulletin)
July 11, 1946: "Grazing service fire-fighting crews from Shoshone this afternoon are still battling a range fire that broke out about 7:30 a.m. today on Kimama butte between Paul and Kimama.
About 100 acres of desert land is being burned and lookouts at Kimama butte lookout station reported this afternoon that the fire 'was being knocked out but it is still not under control.'
Two large tank trucks were sent from Shoshone to combat the flames. Lookouts said that although the flames were shooting high into the air this morning that the fire was not raging so ferociously this afternoon." (Times-News)
July 22, 1947: "The Laidlaw park fire reduced to ashes at 20,000 acres of brush and grass before it was brought under control Monday, J.A. Keith, district grazier said. A full report on the acreage still has not been received.
Keith explained that because the fire was a considerable distance from any lookout station and that because of a shortage of appropriations the Kimama butte lookout station isn't manned this year, the fire was not noticed until Monday morning. The fire was set by lightning Sunday morning and had burned several thousand acres before it was discovered." (Times-News)
September 17, 1953: "A range fire burned 4,000 acres in Lincoln County when it roared out of control after a Tuesday night lightning storm. The blaze started from a bolt of lightning which hit within 50 feet of the Kimama fire lookout station." (The Post-Register)
July 6, 1958: "Anyone looking for some excitement? If so, there are two cougars about a quarter of a mile from the Kimama Butte lookout station that are just inviting a hunt.
The two have been seen four or five days in a row by Walter Chapman, keeper at the station.
Chapman says if anyone wants to go hunting in the area, he will be glad to direct them to the spot where he has seen the cougars. He suspects there is a nest of them there." (Twin Falls Times News)
The two have been seen four or five days in a row by Walter Chapman, keeper at the station.
Chapman says if anyone wants to go hunting in the area, he will be glad to direct them to the spot where he has seen the cougars. He suspects there is a nest of them there." (Twin Falls Times News)
October 21, 1962: "Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Walton returned to Shoshone after spending the summer at Kimama Butte lookout station. They have lived there since June 13." (The Times-News)
July 4, 1970: "At Kimama Lookout Station, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Locke, Gooding are living and keep a regular fire watch there." (Idaho Statesman)
1975: New cab. (Kresek)
2003: Destroyed (Kresek)
DESIGNATION - KIMAMA BUTTE LOOKOUT HOUSE
PID - NU1767
STATE/COUNTY- ID/MINIDOKA
COUNTRY - US
USGS QUAD - KIMAMA BUTTE (1972)
STATION DESCRIPTION
DESCRIBED BY COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY 1950 (WRH)
STATION IS THE PEAK OF THE POINTED ROOF OF THE KIMAMA BUTTE
LOOKOUT HOUSE. THE HOUSE IS A SQUARE FRAME STRUCTURE WITH
WINDOWS ON ALL FOUR SIDES. IT IS OPERATED BY THE DEPARTMENT
OF INTERIOR, BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, AND SERVES BOTH AS
A FIRE LOOKOUT STATION AND A WEATHER STATION.
IT IS LOCATED 16 MILES NORTH-NORTHWEST OF BURLEY, 15 MILES
NORTHWEST OF RUPERT, AND 8 MILES SOUTHWEST OF KIMAMA, ON THE
HIGHEST POINT OF KIMAMA BUTTE, A SOLITARY HILL RISING ABOVE
THE SAGEBRUSH COVERED FLATS. A SECOND HOUSE, THE DWELLING
OF THE LOOKOUT ATTENDANT, IS LOCATED ABOUT 170 YARDS NORTHEAST
OF AND ABOUT 150 FEET LOWER THAN THE LOOKOUT, ON THE FIRST
SHOULDER BELOW THE TOP.