Peek Inside the Dangerous and Incredible World of Smokejumpers… and Their Gear
- Posted on June 4, 2012 at 8:14am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Being a firefighter is one of the most dangerous jobs in the world. So what about fighting fires from above — using a parachute? Recently, The Daily went inside the world of smokejumpers, firefighters who use an incredible set of tools to extinguish ferocious blazes.
The jumpers operate out of nine bases across the country and are trained to suit up in two minutes, and many of them have “regular” jobs:
From The Daily:
The brave souls known as “smokejumpers” make up just 3 percent of the nation’s wildfire fighters, but they’re often called up first when remote forests start to burn. These 450 highly-trained men and women are now gearing up for what already promises to be an intense, fiery summer.
[...]
Wildfires are mainly fought with sweat. Wielding hand tools and chain saws — dropped separately from the plane — the firefighters clear trees and brush to scrape a broad line of bare earth across the path of the fire, creating a barrier flames can’t cross.
Once the fire’s contained, burning logs and brush are put out by scooping cold dirt over hot coals. It’s grueling work, and it can go on for days at a stretch. Afterward, jumpers can be extracted by helicopter or, if there are roads nearby, by truck.
But while the job is difficult, the smokejumpers are equipped with some tough backwoods gear to make the job easier. Gear that all must fit on their person each time they jump. These pictures illustrate how even that is a tough job:
A time-lapse video shows you just how it’s done:
Of course, packing all that gear and jumping with it requires rigorous training. Reporter Erik German went through the paces and found out just how difficult the job is. He also found out where the smokejumpers put all that gear:
You can read the full story on, and gain a lot of respect for, smokejumpers here.
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MrObvious
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 12:30amWow tough, but worth while, job, glad they’re there doing it, more glad it’s not me.
Report Post »THE MAD TACO
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 4:06pmI started out as a Grunt with NPS and became a sawyer stationed on the North rim of the Grand Canyon. It was great, then one day a announcment was made about attending Jump school. I applied and was on my way ! I loved it. Some one said it was a high paying Job? Not really and you can only work it for so many years!
Wish I was in that condition now as I was then, you’re body lets you know what you have done in the past! Great people to be with,second to none!
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 6:57pmWhere are the prophylactics, I do not see any?
Report Post »bdandsl
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 2:37pmUnsung heroes. I live in the CA mountains and appreciate all of our U.S. Forest Service and CAL Fire men and women, and the local volunteers for their service. Thank you all.
Report Post »SgtB
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 9:21pmYes, thank you firefighters! Thank you for not allowing the forests to go through their natural burn cycles and allowing the ground to be covered in kindling for decades upon decades creating the conditions for massive an unstoppable fires like the ones that engulfed most of the California landscape east of Oceanside and Camp Pendleton causing myself and everyone in southern California to breathe soot and ash for a week straight.
There is nothing wrong with saving homes from wildfire… Provided that the homeowner has created a defensible space around their home and the operation is feasible. The problem is that for so long, our firefighters have been spotting smoke in the forest and putting out every fire they see. They got so good that more than a half century of pine needles, leaf litter, and dead or dieing trees now scatter the woods ready for any spark to turn them into a raging inferno. I’ve got no problem with the men on the ground, but someone in the planning department didn’t know how to think ahead and now we are dealing with the foreseeable consequences of past actions.
Report Post »lapitup
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 12:30pmPeople are missing the real story here. China is the smart one hear because they let Americans borrow their money to use and come up with the F-22 that cost hundreds of Millions if not billions of dollars to create. China just uses their money on spies which is alot cheaper then all the research it took to build the plan on borrowed money no less. You have got to see the irony here and our president’s administration probably handed it over to the spy with a bow on it.
Report Post »MrObvious
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 12:29amSpies, ya, like the ones Bill Clinton gave unfettered access to national secrets and technology.
Report Post »All it really takes is having Democrat presidents in your back pocket.
Two dems in a row, not a bad deal – for them; and, only an 8 year gap between spoils.
Guitar Master
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 10:03amzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
From THE REPORTER
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Makes you wonder why they don’t have much larger emergency teams to snuff out these fires immediately. Why can’t they have a ready-reserve squadron of tankers on 24 hr. call, perhaps 150 of them? In this case they can try to put a fire out before it becomes too large. It’s always a slow reaction it seems.
Report Post »teamarcheson
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 7:02pmIts a good idea. The US Army did stuff like that back in the 1800s. Now we wait until the mushroom cloud dissipates. and then request for bids goes out to the military equipment manufacturers. Same as fighting fires. Have they fought fires any differently since you can remember. I hope they don’t try to use water to put out the fire because this will create problems with the EPA.
Report Post »Darla_K
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 9:21amMy hat off to these brave people who risk their lives. May God keep you safe.
Report Post »ME
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:03amThey don’t do it because they care they do it for the money and recognition. This is a very high paid position and there are many that would “jump” to do it in a second. Save your prayers for the kids that get there hands tied behind there back and are told to not fight in a war zone and the guys making peanuts armed with rubber bullets fighting the war on the boarder against DOJ armed drug mules.
Report Post »Xpressed
Posted on June 5, 2012 at 12:05am@ME I know of very few who do it for the recognition. Those types are pushed out pretty quick. The pay isn’t that high either. Most of them are making in the neighborhood of 50K a year before taxes. I will agree that none of us are heros though. Save that word for very special occasions, not a grunt digging in the dirt for hours on end. No glamour in that.
Report Post »duckwalker
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 8:44amI’ve worked with these folks may times over the years and they work like animals. No way a normal everyday person could keep up with them. You give them a job and get out of the way. They have a work ethic second to none. They have earned and deserve a lot of respect.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 8:55amIf I remember right,they were the original “special forces”. or precursor to.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 8:56amOriginated the LALO concept for one.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 8:39amRead a book back in the day in elementary school called “The Smoke Jumpers”. It told this story and how dangerous it was.Surprised due to the high rate of fatalities due to winds blowing them into the blaze and igniting their ‘chutes that they are still using canopies and not parasail style.
Report Post »duckwalker
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 8:46amDid you know they make a lot of their own gear? They have big sewing shops where the fabricate and test a lot of gear.
Report Post »brntout
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 8:52am@ DUCKWALKER yes that was detailed in that book.They were not a gov’t funded program, and they were an all volunteer group at that time.
Report Post »Dirtech
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 9:05amI don‘t believe that’s correct(at least you don’t hear about those fatalities-referring to being blown into the fire). Also, BLM jumpers use square chutes while forest service uses the rounds you are referring to. If you can get past the initial rookie training (which is very intense)you have it made. Like any job in fire, some fire fighters give their all some milk it. Doesn’t matter which organization they belong to.
Report Post »Xpressed
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 11:46pmNo “Lawn Darts” get blown into the fire. They’re a little smarter than that, a little. They land far enough away to stay safe but still be able to pack in their flip flops and sunvisors. When they figure out that you can’t put fires out with suntan lotion and a Burkenstock, they call in Hotshot Crews who have to hike to where they fell. Then the work begins and the fire gets put out. After the fire is out and the “leapers” show back up from where ever they went the Hotshots hike back out whilst the over rated I.A. guys get a helicopter ride back out. This narrative as you have read it has some truths to it, that being said I have alot of jumper buddies and love them to death. Most of them, when they want to do some real work they come over to the crew life. Awaiting the return bashing all in good fun.
Report Post »goahead.makemyday
Posted on June 4, 2012 at 8:23amOne more dangerous job people do to save other people. I think we spend too much time celebrating people who pretend to be heroes,(actors) not the people who actually deserve it. People such as firefighters, our armed forces, the police(most cases), and anyone else who willingly risks their life for the sake of others.
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