Buzz
Smokejumper
Jason Ramos’s memoir, Smokejumper, offers a gripping look into the life of individuals who leap from planes directly into the heart of wildfires. These brave professionals, known as smokejumpers, are deployed to remote forest areas to prevent fires from escalating into disasters. Working in isolation, they carry over 100 pounds of survival and firefighting equipment, training rigorously to handle extreme conditions. The book unveils 10 intriguing insights about these extraordinary individuals.
1. The smokejumper program was born from a devastating wildfire.
The origins of the smokejumper program trace back to a 1937 wildfire in Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming. Initially unnoticed, the fire grew uncontrollably, resulting in a catastrophic firestorm that killed 15 firefighters and injured 38 others. The challenge of reaching remote areas with heavy equipment led to the innovative idea of parachuting firefighters and supplies directly to the site. In 1939, the U.S. Forest Service launched a trial program in Winthrow, Washington, using surplus funds. The first successful fire jump occurred in 1940, just 37 years after the Wright Brothers’ first flight. By the end of the season, the program had saved $30,000, proving its effectiveness and paving the way for its expansion.
2. The training is grueling and demanding.
Getty Images
Smokejumpers are trained to land in rugged, forested, and mountainous areas near wildfires. Their preparation includes mastering exits from cargo planes (a flawed exit can lead to parachute failure), landing in wild terrain (where low-altitude jumps feel more like falling than skydiving), freeing themselves from tall trees where parachutes often get caught, retrieving airdropped supplies, and battling fires without immediate backup. Central to their role is maintaining exceptional physical fitness and the ability to ascend steep slopes while hauling over 100 pounds of equipment. Only those with unwavering determination and exceptional physical ability can pass the rigorous training.
3. They are the elite forces of firefighting.
Getty Images
Smokejumper units are classified as “Type 1” under the national Incident Command System (ICS) for emergency response. According to Ramos, Type 1 signifies the highest level of capability, whether referring to resources like aircraft and vehicles (which are the largest) or personnel. These teams are composed of individuals with the most advanced training and experience. Other specialized firefighting groups include “hotshots,” who tackle fires in the most challenging terrains, and helitack crews, who are flown by helicopter and rappel into fire zones.
4. The most challenging aspect is the jump itself.
Getty Images
When the alarm sounds, smokejumpers quickly gather their equipment and don their protective gear. Their jumpsuits are designed with an outer layer resistant to cuts, punctures, and abrasions from trees and other obstacles encountered during landing. The suits are also fireproof, capable of enduring temperatures up to 2000 degrees for four seconds, with padding strategically placed for added protection. Underneath, they wear standard firefighting attire. Once fully suited up with parachutes and helmets, they board the aircraft and prepare for takeoff.
While in the air, smokejumpers receive instructions to ensure their equipment is securely fastened and static lines are properly connected from their parachutes to the plane. (A static line functions like a ripcord; after a jumper exits the plane, it automatically deploys the parachute. If the main chute fails, a reserve parachute can be manually activated.) “Spotters” on the plane monitor the fire and determine the optimal moment for the jump. To assess wind conditions, streamers are tossed from the aircraft to gauge speed and direction before the jump begins.
Once the signal is given, smokejumpers leap from the plane, maintaining a compact body posture. They exit at approximately 1500 feet, descending rapidly toward the ground. Ideally, their parachutes open, and as they near the ground, they keep their feet and knees together with legs slightly bent. They are trained to execute a “parachute landing fall,” a rolling motion that absorbs the impact. In a split second, they land on the balls of their feet, rolling in the direction of their descent to distribute the force through their calves, thighs, hips, and back.
5. Fighting the fire is equally challenging.
Getty Images
After landing, smokejumpers remove their jump gear and suits, regroup, and secure their equipment, which is dropped in separate containers. These containers hold enough supplies to sustain them for at least 48 hours, including food, chainsaws, first aid kits, water, and more. Once organized, they move toward the fire to begin their mission.
The primary strategy involves creating a containment line starting from the fire’s origin, utilizing natural barriers like roads or streams if possible, or manually digging a line if needed. This line prevents the fire from spreading back. From the origin, smokejumpers work toward the fire’s “head,” the fastest-moving part, flanking it and eliminating fuel sources—ranging from small bushes to towering trees. They eventually extinguish the head, likened to “snuffing out a match with fingers.” This demanding work involves manual tools, rugged terrain, and confronting massive walls of flame.
6. Some smokejumpers have achieved remarkable fame.
Getty Images
While being a smokejumper is impressive, a few have gone even further. In May 1963, Willi Unsoeld, a smokejumper and mountaineer, along with Tom Hornbein, scaled Mt. Everest’s west ridge, establishing a new and difficult path. In 1967, George Sisler, from the North Cascades Smokejumper Base, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in the Vietnam War. (He even won the National Collegiate Skydiving Competition with one leg in a cast.) Later, Stuart Roosa, a smokejumper from Cave Junction, Oregon, outdid them all by traveling to the moon as part of the Apollo 14 mission.
7. The 101st Airborne Division was inspired by smokejumpers.
Getty Images
In 1940, U.S. Army Major William C. Lee visited a smokejumper training camp in Montana. Inspired by their methods and the military applications of their techniques, he later established the 101st Airborne Division. (The division’s soldiers and the tactics pioneered by smokejumpers were famously portrayed in the series Band of Brothers.)
8. The CIA employed smokejumpers during the Vietnam War.
Getty Images
During the Vietnam War, the CIA actively recruited smokejumpers for their expertise. As Ramos notes, the agency sought individuals skilled in delivering cargo from low-flying planes with precision in challenging terrains under high-pressure conditions. Over 50 smokejumpers were involved in covert operations across Laos, Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia. The secret was thinly veiled among jumpers, with many returning from “Alaska” or “Maine” sporting sunburns and jungle-related ailments. Tragically, nine smokejumpers lost their lives during these missions.
9. Smokejumpers played a crucial role in defending the U.S. during World War II.
Getty Images
During World War II, the 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, an all-black airborne unit, was deployed on the U.S. West Coast to defend against Japanese “fire balloons.” Between 1944 and 1945, Japan launched 9000 incendiary balloons, with 1000 reaching U.S. soil. While monitoring for these threats, the 555th conducted over 1200 fire jumps and responded to 36 forest fires in the Pacific Northwest. (One member died during a fire jump.) Their efforts not only protected the nation but also made smokejumping one of the earliest racially integrated professions in America.
10. Smokejumpers are skilled in sewing and gear maintenance.
Getty Images
With fewer than 500 active smokejumpers today (and fewer than 6000 in history), their specialized equipment isn’t available in stores. Ramos explains, “We create our own jumpsuits, harnesses, and gear bags from scratch.” Early in his career, he learned that inspecting, repairing, and crafting gear is a significant part of a smokejumper’s routine between missions. Designs are passed down through generations, refined with new technologies and insights, and rigorously tested by those who understand the life-or-death importance of their work.
