Forest Fire Fighting with the Smoke Jumpers
Forest fires strike fear in the heart of anyone living near huge tracts of forest land. Fortunately there are brave fire fighters known as the smoke jumpers. These individuals are carried over the forest in airplanes, and parachute out of the plane when they reach the scene of the fire. Sometimes they rappel out of helicopters, too, depending on the fire and the situation.
The main advantage to having smoke jumpers fight a forest fire is that they can reach the remote areas of the forest where the fire is beginning to blaze. Smoke jumpers were first employed in the late 1930’s. There have been some big accidents in the past, but many potential dangers have been identified since then. It is a safer job now than it was then.
Smoke jumpers wear heavily padded clothing when they jump into fire areas because there is a large risk of landing in a tree and being injured. The airplane crew also drops tools such as axes and chain saws, along with portable pumps for water and fire-fighting chemicals. When the smoke jumpers reach the ground, they gather up the tools they need to fight the fire and begin.
Obviously, a smoke jumper must be in excellent physical condition and enjoy the exhileration of risk. They also need to be intelligent, decisive, and quick thinking. They work in teams and crews, but need to be able to think independently, too. All fires are not safe to jump into, and a good smoke jumper will be able to tell the difference. They must know how not to jump into a dangerous fire foolishly.
Smoke jumpers also need to be experienced in orienteering, which is finding their way around in the forest using only a contour map and a compass. Some of the skills needed for becoming a smoke jumper can be learned in the military. Of course, they must know all about fire-fighting, and are expected to stay with the fire until it is completely put out. This can require many continuous hours of work at a time.
When they are not actively fighting fires, smoke jumpers work on maintaining their equipment. They also work out daily to maintain a high physical fitness level.
Russia employs more smoke jumpers than any other nation. The pay is fairly good because of the risk involved. Smoke jumpers can be satisfied in knowing they are providing a service that improves safety and security for people and wildlife in heavily wooded areas.
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