Meet the woman who lives in a 14ft fire lookout in the middle of a 1.6 million acre forest - 35 miles miles away from neighbours and shops.

Courtney McIntosh, 34, moved into 14ft by 14ft fire lookout in the wilderness in Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico, in April 2024.

She lives alone with her dog, Captain Pepperoni, and works from 8am until 6pm on the lookout for any smoke and fires which could destroy the forest - to alert the fire service to extinguish them.

The tiny abode comes with electricity, a stove, a mini fridge but has no running water - instead Courtney fills up water in the ranger station hour and 15 minutes away.

Courtney has to travel two hours car ride to reach the nearest shop - hiking past black bears - to get groceries including dry goods, fresh fruit and vegetables, frozen goods.

Courtney's boyfriend, Michael, 36, has visited the lookout once and Courtney will often take one day off a week and will use the day to do chores like getting mail, laundry, and groceries.

While she is in the lookout, Courtney will keep herself entertained by going for a hike, reading and listening to podcasts.

Courtney, originally from Detroit, Michigan, US, said: "I have been working in the service industry for the past eight years."

"I do have a background in environmentalism and have done a lot of volunteer work."

"I was looking to get out of the service industry, I wanted to be isolated when I came across a TikToker who was living in a fire lookout."

"I asked them for advice, looked around different districts and applied for roles until I got this job."

"I really enjoy the solitude I get in the job, I enjoy reconnecting with the land and it gives you a lot of free time."

"I love knowing that I am taking care of the land."

Courtney first applied for a fire lookout role in September 2022 but didn't get a job offer.

She reapplied a further two times before being offered a role in September 2023.

Courtney said: "I took the certifications online, it was all free and very interesting."

"It was more introducing me into the role and it taught me about wild fire behaviour."

"It only took me a few days to do."

Once she got offered the job in Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico, Courtney said her parents were sad but excited for her new role.

As a fire lookout, she spends all season out in the forest or National Park.

Courtney earns $16-an-hour and her role also includes monitoring the weather, temperature, humanity and cloud cover.

This is Courtney's first season as a fire lookout and she will stay in her post until September 2025.

Courtney does have holiday days but said she is choosing to save them until her year is up.

She said: "Every season is different depending what area you go to."

"My lookout is the south west, my season started in April and will end in September 2025."

"My parents were sad about me leaving as I am so close to them but they were happy for me."

"My friends have been super supportive as they knew this was something I was pursuing."

Since living in the lookout, Courtney's day-to-day routine involves her working between 8am until 6pm.

Courtney said: "I wake up around 6 to 6.30am, I make a coffee and do a quick check to make sure nothing has happened."

"Usually smoke from fire will happen first thing."

"At around 9.30am I will check the weather, in my role, I also monitor the weather, temperature, humidity, cloud cover and I will record if there has been any rain."

"I will do that again at 1pm and spend the rest of my day scanning for smoke."

"Between 5pm and 7.30pm the lookout gets very hot, I will usually get out and go for a hike."

"When I get back I will make dinner, do yoga and be asleep for 10pm."

Courtney said she is allowed two days off a week but will usually work for two weeks straight if she has enough supplies.

She said: "I am allowed to take two days off a week, sometimes in my lookout I will need someone to come up when I am not here. "

"Usually, I will take one day off a week or if I have supplies I will do two weeks in a row."

"I won't see my family until the end of the season, if there is a family emergency I will go home but I plan to stay here the whole season."

Courtney's daily routine -
6-6.30am: Make coffee and check for smoke
9.30am and 1pm: Check weather, temperature, humanity, cloud cover and rain
5-7.30pm: Go for a hike, go litter picking
7.30pm: Make dinner and do yoga
10pm: Go to bed