Experience the incredible world of aviation at the Pacific Airshow in Huntington Beach this weekend! As you marvel at the aerial displays, take a moment to appreciate one of the most amazing jobs in the field of aviation in the West.
Imagine the challenges faced by those who fight wildfires across the vast wilderness. Now, picture parachuting into the heart of the fire zone and hiking for miles to combat the blaze.
When the alarm sounds, the brave smokejumpers swiftly prepare their heavy packs and head to the runway. Flying hundreds of miles, they then make a daring leap from the plane, counting to five before pulling the ripcord. After touching down, their work becomes even more demanding as they embark on a several-mile hike with a 100-pound pack, building a fire line.
Typically, smokejumpers jump from heights ranging from 1,500 to 3,000 feet, aiming for the safest location near the fire. While on most missions, a team of two to eight smokejumpers is dropped, additional reinforcements may be called if necessary.
Guided by spotters on the plane, the smokejumpers locate a suitable landing area and receive cargo drops once they reach the ground.
Back in 1939, smokejumping was just an experiment, but it quickly became an integral part of firefighting. The first operational fire jump took place near Boise, Idaho, and during World War II, the Army’s 101st Airborne followed their lead.
While most smokejumping missions last a couple of days, some can extend for a much longer duration.
Being a smokejumper requires exceptional physical fitness, surpassing the demands of other firefighting roles.
If you’re interested in pursuing this thrilling career, you can find the job requirements here.
To combat wildfires, the most common tactic employed by smokejumpers is the construction of a direct fire line using chainsaws, crosscut saws, and hand tools. This action creates a fuel break, preventing the fire from spreading. Once the fire is contained, the team cools down the remaining heat by stirring hot ash with mineral soil.
The majority of smokejumpers work from late spring until early fall.
During periods of low fire activity, smokejumpers engage in disaster relief, emergency management, and provide expertise for other fire suppression tasks.
The Perfect Timing to Send Smokejumpers
In an article titled “Smokejumping: A Quick Commute” by U.S. Forest Service writer Andrew Avitt, Don Graham, operations manager with the California Smokejumpers (with over 500 jumps in the past 23 years), emphasizes the importance of swift action in smokejumping. Graham states, “The whole idea of smokejumping is that if we’re successful, you don’t hear about our fires. You don’t hear about this operation. Wildfire is time-sensitive. Anytime there is an ignition, the sooner you put that ignition out, the better off we are.”
On average, smokejumpers in California conduct about 220 jumps every 10 years.
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