Types of Fire Lookout Towers: Steel Towers: Steel towers can vary in size and height. These towers are very sturdy, but tend to sway in the wind a bit more than a wooden tower. The typical cab of a steel tower can be from 10 × 10 ft (3. 0 × 3. 0 m) to 14 × 14 ft (4. 3 × 4. 3 m). Ground cabs: Ground cabs are still known as "towers" even though there may be no such tower under the cab. These towers can be one, two or three stories tall with foundations made of natural stone or cement. These towers vary greatly in size, but many are simple wooden or steel tower cabs that were constructed using the same plans, sans the tower. Other types: There are many different types of lookouts. In the early days, the fire lookoutoperator would simply climb a denuded tree and would sit upon a 2'x2' platform chair atop that tree. An old fishing boat was once dragged to the top of a high hill and it was used as a fire lookout tower. Very little is known about the horse mounted fire lookout, but they, too, would ride the ridges patrolling the forest for smoke. Countries continuing to use fire lookout towers Include Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada; France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Latvia, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, Uruguay and USA