A Smokejumper is an elite, highly specialized wildland firefighter who parachutes into remote, otherwise inaccessible terrain to combat wildfires. These individuals are part of a small, highly trained force tasked with providing the fastest possible initial attack on fires far from roads or ground access points. The job demands extreme physical conditioning, technical skill in parachute maneuvering, and specialized knowledge of fire suppression in rugged wilderness environments. Smokejumping is a high-risk occupation that protects vast tracts of public land and natural resources from devastating fires.
Defining the Role of the Smokejumper
Smokejumpers primarily serve as an initial attack resource, engaging a fire quickly while it is still small, ideally before it exceeds 10 acres. They are employed by federal agencies, specifically the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), operating across vast areas of the Western United States. Their aerial insertion allows them to reach fires hours or even days faster than standard ground crews, which is often the difference between a minor incident and a major conflagration.
The types of fires they tackle are typically small, isolated incidents in roadless wilderness areas. Once on the ground, the team works to establish a secure fire line using hand tools and then waits for traditional ground crews to hike in and relieve them. Smokejumpers are distinct from general wildland fire crews, such as Hotshot crews, because of their parachute insertion method.
A Brief History of Smokejumping
The concept of using parachutists to fight fires emerged in the late 1930s as federal agencies struggled to manage fires in the vast, roadless forests of the Pacific Northwest. Initial experiments were conducted to determine the safety and feasibility of dropping firefighters into dense timber. The official Smokejumper program was established in 1940 by the U.S. Forest Service as a direct response to the difficulty of accessing remote fires.
This aerial strategy quickly proved effective, allowing fire suppression efforts to begin much sooner in isolated regions. The success of these initial efforts solidified the smokejumper’s place as a permanent, specialized asset in federal wildland fire management.
The Smokejumping Process: From Dispatch to Fire Attack
Initial Call and Preparation
The process begins with an immediate dispatch call, often triggered by fire detection aircraft or lookout towers reporting a new smoke column. Smokejumpers maintain a constant state of readiness, with a required response time of just minutes from notification to aircraft takeoff. Jumper squads quickly don their specialized protective suits, harness, and helmets, then load the aircraft with their individual firefighting gear and cargo.
The specialized jump gear includes a thick suit, helmet, face mask, and ankle supports designed to protect the jumper from tree limbs and rough landings. Cargo chutes are packed with heavier equipment, including chain saws, communication radios, food, water, and specialized hand tools. This rapid mobilization ensures they can be airborne and en route to the incident with minimal delay.
Air Operations and Jump Procedures
Smokejumper operations utilize fixed-wing aircraft capable of short takeoffs and landings. A designated Spotter, essentially the Jump Master, is responsible for safely navigating to the fire and determining the precise jump spot, considering wind direction, terrain hazards, and fire behavior. The aircraft typically flies at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet above ground level for the deployment of jumpers.
The Spotter drops small test chutes, known as drift indicators, to calculate the correct exit point for the jumpers to land in the designated target area. Jumpers exit the aircraft in a controlled sequence, focusing on steering their parachutes to avoid obstacles. Safety checks are continuously performed by the Spotter and the jumpers themselves before and during the descent.
Landing and Equipment Retrieval
The landing phase is often the most dangerous part of the job, as jumpers must execute a controlled descent into dense timber or uneven terrain. Jumpers employ specific maneuvers to land on target, often aiming for the smallest possible clearings or executing a controlled tree landing. The immediate priority upon hitting the ground is to disconnect from the parachute harness and check for injuries.
The next action involves locating and retrieving the cargo that was dropped separately via heavy cargo parachutes. This cargo contains the bulk of the firefighting tools and supplies required for several days of autonomous operation. Jumpers then consolidate the gear and begin the process of packing out the used parachutes.
Fire Suppression Tactics
Once the team is assembled and fully equipped, their initial action is to establish communication with the air attack platform and ground command. The Jump Boss, the most experienced member of the squad, conducts a thorough size-up of the fire to determine its perimeter, fuel source, and potential spread. Smokejumpers rely heavily on hand tools to create a fire line, which is a trench dug down to mineral soil to deprive the fire of fuel.
The team works aggressively to contain the fire’s spread, employing tactics such as cutting and scraping a perimeter line around the entire burn area. They focus on removing all flammable material within the control line. This initial containment effort is sustained until a larger ground crew can arrive to take over the extended attack and mop-up operations.
Prerequisites and Training to Become a Smokejumper
Becoming a smokejumper is highly competitive, and applicants must demonstrate significant prior experience in wildland fire suppression, typically working several seasons on a Hotshot or Helitack crew. Candidates are required to have at least one year of qualifying experience at the GS-4 level or higher, proving their competence with fire line construction and safe work practices. This foundational experience ensures new recruits are proficient in the fundamentals of fire behavior and team dynamics.
The physical fitness requirements are rigorous and tested on the first day of the Rookie Training Program. Rookies must also demonstrate the ability to pack a 110-pound load three miles on level terrain in 90 minutes or less, simulating the weight of their jump gear and tools. Specific requirements include:
- Complete a 1.5-mile run in 11 minutes or less.
- Perform 7 pull-ups.
- Perform 25 push-ups.
- Perform 45 sit-ups.
The Smokejumper Rookie Training Program is an intense course, often lasting five to seven weeks, focusing heavily on specialized skills. Trainees spend weeks learning parachute rigging, emergency procedures, controlled tree landing techniques, and advanced parachute maneuvering. The training culminates in a series of live training jumps before being certified as operational smokejumpers.
The Smokejumper Lifestyle and Career Path
The smokejumper career is characterized by a seasonal schedule, with the primary fire season typically running from May through October. Smokejumpers are constantly on the move, deployed from bases located across the Western U.S., traveling wherever the fire danger is highest. This lifestyle involves long periods of waiting on standby, followed by intense, prolonged assignments in remote areas.
Compensation for federal smokejumpers follows the General Schedule (GS) pay scale, often starting at the GS-5 or GS-6 level. They also receive hazard pay for their work in high-risk environments, which supplements their base salary. The job carries significant inherent risks, including injuries sustained during parachute jumps, exposure to intense fire conditions, and the challenges of remote operations far from immediate medical care.
The career offers opportunities for progression into leadership roles, such as Jump Boss, Spotter, or crew management, which can lead to higher federal pay grades. Many experienced smokejumpers transition into senior management positions within the federal firefighting and land management agencies, utilizing their specialized expertise in aviation and initial attack strategy.