Business in the U.S. Odd & Bizarre Jobs: Forest Fire Lookout

About odd jobs and bizarre ways to make a living in the United States, being a forest fire lookout.

Forest Fire Lookout: Author Jack Kerouac did this. It's the perfect job for solitary types with no fear of heights and the ideal opportunity to write the great American novel. The job consists of manning a tower in a national park or forest preserve and watching for signs of fire. It can be lonely work; for years the Forest service sought newlywed couples for this job. Pay is based on civil service wage levels (starting around $6,000) and includes generous health benefits. Contact the U.S. Forest Service in Washington, D.C., to apply.