The removal of the Woodridge fire tower has left many residents surprised and disappointed, as the long-standing landmark quietly disappeared from the community this fall.

Ken Prociw, councillor for Ward 1 in the Rural Municipality of Piney, which includes Woodridge and Sandilands, says the tower had not been used for wildfire detection in many years but remained a visible piece of local history.

"It hasn't been in use for a number of years, but it was the last tower that was still in the area."

For residents, the tower served as a connection to the region’s forestry past and the people who once staffed lookout stations throughout the Sandilands Provincial Forest.

"So it's another item that's lost from the area."

Sandhogs used the site as staging area

The land where the tower stood i

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