GAOA (Great American Outdoors Act) Red Oak Fire Tower Lightning Protection and Electrical Upgrades

This project was performed under MCB's "Won and Run" model for the USDA Forest Service in Webster County, West Virginia. MCB identified the opportunity, developed the winning proposal, supported project estimating, and then served in key project leadership roles including Project Manager, Safety Coordinator, Quality Control Manager, Environmental Manager, Scheduler, and Specifier. 

Funded through the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA), the project involved installation of a complete lightning protection system and electrical infrastructure upgrades for the historic Red Oak Fire Tower located within the Monongahela National Forest. The scope included lightning protection improvements, grounding and bonding systems, electrical service installation, distribution equipment, RV power pedestals, conduit systems, wiring, and associated electrical infrastructure supporting future public use of the site. The work required compliance with NFPA 780, National Electrical Code requirements, and U.S. Forest Service design standards.

During execution, MCB identified and resolved multiple design discrepancies and constructability challenges involving lightning protection materials, grounding electrode requirements, conductor fastening requirements for system certification, grounding system modifications, and code compliance issues. MCB worked directly with the Government, design professionals, manufacturers, and lightning protection specialists to develop compliant solutions and obtain approval for revised installation methods and system components.

MCB also provided FAA-certified Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) support to the Lightning Protection Institute during system inspection and certification activities. Project imagery collected by MCB was utilized to support remote verification of the lightning protection installation, improving access to elevated components of the fire tower while supporting quality control and compliance verification efforts.

The project was completed safely, on schedule, and within budget.