The new fire lookout tower has been completed on East Veterans Highway in Jackson Township to replace the longtime fire lookout tower that was dismantled in Lakewood.
Construction of the new NJ Forest Fire Service tower on East Veterans Highway began earlier this year as part of efforts to maintain fire surveillance infrastructure in the region, following the closure and removal of the Lakewood lookout tower. 
In September 2024, The Lakewood Scoop published video footage showing crews dismantling the decade-old fire watch tower on Massachusetts Avenue in Lakewood. The tower, which had served for years as part of the state’s wildfire detection network, was permanently closed and taken down after being decommissioned by the Forest Fire Service earlier that summer. 
The new Jackson tower is anticipated to provide a modern observation point for spotting wildfires and enhancing early detection capabilities across Ocean County woodlands and surrounding areas. Construction at the East Veterans location has been underway through 2025, with the new structure designed to continue the essential role once filled by the Lakewood station. 
Final details on the tower’s operational start date and any planned dedication ceremony have not yet been announced.
sure sure! I remember the old one! Me and a couple buddies once broke through the fence and climbed all the way up! you can actually see very far out.