I live in a 14-by-14-foot lookout in the woods of New Mexico. My house is remote and has no running water. The nearest store is 35 miles away.

Could you live in a house like that?

Courtney McIntosh, 34, moved into a tiny 14-by-14-foot lookout in the wilderness of New Mexico’s Santa Fe National Forest in April after she got a new job.

Video footage shows the inside of the raised hut, which includes a simple kitchen, two beds and a work station.

As a firefighter — a position that pays $16 an hour — Courtney works from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. monitor the weather, temperature, humidity and cloud cover.

This is Courtney’s first season as a firefighter and she will remain at her post until September 2025.

Courtney McIntosh, 34, moved into a tiny 14-by-14-foot lookout in the wilderness of New Mexico’s Santa Fe National Forest in April after she got a new job

Video footage shows the inside of the elevated hut, which includes spaces such as a basic kitchen, two beds and a work station

Her tiny house, built in 1965 to replace an earlier lookout, has electricity but no running water.

Instead, Courtney has to fill water bottles at the ranger station, which is just over an hour’s drive away.

The nearest shops are also 56 kilometres away, making grocery shopping a challenge.

To keep her company, since there are no neighbors for miles around, Courtney has a dog named Captain Pepperoni.

Courtney’s boyfriend, Michael, 36, has already visited the lookout and she often takes one day off a week to do chores and personal things.

When she’s not on lookout duty, Courtney, originally from Detroit, Michigan, enjoys hiking, reading, and listening to podcasts.

Meanwhile, her main task during the watch is to warn the fire brigade of any smoke development or fire that could destroy the forest.

Courtney explains what prompted her to apply for the lookout position: “I’ve been working in the service industry for eight years.

As a fire watcher—a position that pays $16 an hour—Courtney works from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., monitoring weather, temperature, humidity and cloud cover.

To keep her company, since there are no neighbors for miles around, Courtney has a dog named Captain Pepperoni

‘I have a background in environmental activism and have done a lot of volunteer work.

“I wanted to get out of the service industry and be isolated. When I came across a TikToker who lived on a lookout, it was because he didn’t work in the service industry.

‘I asked them for advice, looked at different districts and applied for positions until I got this job.

‘I really enjoy the solitude I experience in my work, I like to get back in touch with nature and it gives me a lot of free time.

“I like knowing that I am taking good care of the country.”

Courtney first applied for a firefighter position in September 2022, but it took two more attempts before she received an offer a year later.

Courtney explains some of the requirements for her job: ‘I did the certifications online, it was all free and very interesting.

“It was more of an introduction to the role and it taught me about bushfire behaviour. It only took me a couple of days to do.”

Courtney’s boyfriend, Michael, 36, has visited the lookout once and she often takes a day off each week to do chores and personal things

Her main job when she is on guard is to alert the fire department to smoke and fires that could destroy the forest.

When she was offered the job, Courtney said her parents were excited about the opportunity but also sad that she would be away for an extended period of time.

Her friends were also very supportive, because they knew she wanted to change careers.

Courtney does have vacation days, but she says she wants to save them until her year is up.

The adventurer talks about what an average day at work looks like: ‘I wake up between 6:00 and 6:30, make a cup of coffee and quickly check that nothing has happened.

‘Usually, smoke development occurs quickly in the event of a fire.

‘Around 9:30 I check the weather. I also pay attention to the temperature, humidity, cloud cover and whether there has been any rain.

‘I’ll do that again at 1pm and spend the rest of the day looking for smoke.

When she was offered the job, Courtney said her parents were excited about her new role, but also sad that she would be away for an extended period of time.

‘Between 5:00 and 7:30 it is very hot at the lookout point. I usually go outside and take a walk.

‘When I get back, I make dinner, do yoga and go to bed at 10pm.’

Courtney shows how dedicated she is to her work. She gets two days off a week, but usually works two weeks in a row if she has enough supplies.

She concludes: ‘I am allowed to take two days off a week, sometimes I need someone at my lookout post to come by when I am not there.

‘I normally take one day off a week, and if I have material I’ll go two weeks in a row.

“I won’t see my family until the end of the season. If there’s a family emergency, I’ll go home, but I plan on being here for the entire season.”