Nearly a year after the presumed homicide of a 70-year-old woman who disappeared from her fire tower lookout deep in the Alberta bush, a provincial report has recommended tougher security to guard the guardians of the boreal forest.
The report, released Monday, recommends fences, locked gates, personal radios and self-defence training to prevent a repeat of the case of Stephanie Stewart, who disappeared from her Hinton-area fire tower lookout last summer.
"Based on the unfortunate tragedy last year of Stephanie Stewart, this was an opportunity for us to review existing procedures and say, `How can we enhance what we're already doing?'" said Mike Jenkinson, spokesman for Alberta Sustainable Resource Development. "This report is pointing us in that direction."
RCMP began searching for Stewart the morning of Aug. 26, 2006, after she was reported missing. The search eventually included dog teams, air crews, several police units, four government departments and local search and rescue patrols.
Stewart had last spoken with her family the previous evening and was considered in good shape. No trace of her was ever found.
Because items were missing from her cabin, including bedding and a man's wris####ch, an animal attack was ruled out. Police said right from the start they believed she had met with foul play.
"We're still trying to determine what happened to Stephanie Stewart, the circumstances under which she went missing and what transpired thereafter," said RCMP spokesman Cpl. Wayne Oakes.
"In all likelihood, Stephanie Stewart is no longer alive."
Although some of the province's 128 lookout towers are accessible only by airplane, some are near roads and are frequently visited. Some see up to 5,000 visitors over the season, says the report.
Signs pointing out such towers are being removed. As well, fences with locked gates have already been installed around 69 of the more popular towers, said Jenkinson.
Security in the cabins where the lookouts live should also be improved with deadbolt locks and reinforced windows, says the report.
Regulations for lookouts now require them to carry two-way radios with a "panic button" whenever they leave their cabin or the tower. The button transmits an emergency signal.
Personal security — including self-defence skills as well as how to recognize dangerous situations and get out of them before they escalate — should also be part of the training new lookout recruits receive, the report says. That's also underway, said Tim Klein, wildfire detection co-ordinator for the province.
While some of the report's recommendations remain under review, Klein said he hopes the ones already being implemented will make the lookout's job safer.
"Security of all of our staff is always a concern."
