History of Smokejumping

With minor exceptions, Region 1 was "soaking wet" all summer long and a flurry of action on Labor Day was all that brought the season's smokejumper activity above that of 1948. The Region 1 group handled 51 fires with a total of 188 jumps, of which 44 were to one fire on the Salmon Forest in Region 4, Idaho.

As in 1948, jumpers were scattered widely over the Region to obtain maximum benefit to project work, only a small crew of 20 to 50 men being held on call in or near Missoula.

During late summer Twentieth Century-Fox began production at Missoula on a motion picture featuring the jumpers. Personnel from the smokejumper project took part in training and jump sequences, served as extras, operated equipment, and helped build scenery. All of this was at the expense of the motion picture company.

Other events of the year are:

1. Continuation of the helicopter experiments.

2. First use of aerial photographs for jumper spotting.

3. Completion of the section on "Aerial Attack Forces" of the Region 1 Fire Suppression Plan. Indicates need for a force of 240 jumpers.

4. Death of Jerry Verhelst of the Montana Aeronautics Commission in a Northwest Airlines crash near Butte, Montana, November 7. A former Johnson Flying Service pilot he had flown smokejumpers on many operational and training missions in the past.

The smokejumper season of 1951 in Region 1 started late, developed to a high peak, then dropped off almost completely — all within about a month. The total score for the Region was 644 jumps to 176 fires, but 103 of these jumps and 23 fires were in Regions 3, 4, and 5 during slack periods in Montana and Idaho. For a few days in late August, 61 Region 1 jumpers were based at Cave Junction, Oregon, for use on California fires. There was also unprecedented use of Region 1 jumpers for fire overhead in other Regions. A total of six sector teams, each consisting of a sector boss and three foremen were loaned to Regions 3, 5, and 6.

Selected and trained by Region 1, a five-man jumper crew was installed at West Yellowstone by the National Park Service. Other activities of the season include:

1. Completion and release of the Twentieth Century-Fox smokejumper film, "Red Skies of Montana."

2. First use of a recently completed subbase at Grangeville, Idaho. During a peak concentration of lightning fires on the Nezperce Forest, a squad of jumpers operating out of this base handled the situation effectively and saved many hours of "long-haul" travel.

The Region 1 fire season was almost the exact reverse of the previous year. Burning index was relatively low, and lightning occurrence light during July and August; consequently, there was little jumper action. September and most of October, on the other hand, were extremely dry, resulting in a rash of fires that taxed the capacity of the jumper crew which is always reduced at this time of year. Fire jumps for Region 1 totaled 362, with an additional 95 in other western Regions by Region 1 jumpers. Despite the light season, jumpers were credited with a net saving of 26,000 acres and $155,000 in firefighting costs.

Congressional legislation authorized a $700,000 Aerial Fire Depot at Missoula. Work began in the early fall, with the major building contracts let during the succeeding winter.

News events of the season are:

1. First use of motorability tests to measure physical ability and coordination of smokejumper candidates. Promises to be an important aid in eliminating misfits and poor accident risks.

2. Death of R. T. Freng at Palo Alto, California, on July 23. Freng, with Nick Mamer and Forester Howard Flint, established the first Region 1 air patrol in 1925 (see Background History).

An extremely dry July, followed by an alltime record for number of August lightning fires, gave the Region 1 smokejumpers their heaviest workout since the project started. For about 3 weeks beginning August 7, the demand for jumpers was consistently greater than the supply, and had the men been available, the record of 994 jumps to 236 fires in Region 1, plus 133 additional jumps outside the Region, would have been greatly exceeded. In addition to the above, 19 jumps were made in Region 1 by jumpers from Regions 4 and 6.

Other smokejumper units likewise experienced a busy season and the all-Service jumping totals far exceeded any previous year.

The aerial delivery of equipment and supplies (paracargo) has in recent years become almost entirely a job of the smokejumpers in Region 1. During 1953 more than 200 tons of fire supplies, not including smokejumper cargo, 30 tons of treated timber for lookout towers, and lesser amounts of other material were delivered within the Region by airplane and parachute.

Other features of the 1953 season include: (1) Schooling of a special-service detachment of 12 jumpmasters in smokejumper techniques, equipment, and training, conducted at Missoula during May and June. (2) Construction of the Missoula Aerial Fire Depot continued on schedule.

President Dwight D. Eisenhower dedicates Aerial Fire Depot in Missoula, September 22, 1954. Depot used for housing, training, and dispatching smokejumpers; base for fire retardant mixing; and warehouse.

During early spring, the Region 1 smokejumping base and fire warehousing were moved to the newly developed facilities 7 miles west of Missoula. On September 22, President Eisenhower dedicated the new base, this ceremony and the air show drawing a crowd estimated at more than 30,000.

...Text missing... food, firefighting tools, and other equipment to outfit and supply 5,000 firefighters.

Region 1 smokejumping was very light, second only to 1948 in this respect, with but 174 jumps to 47 fires in the Region. Except for Region 3, all regions using smokejumpers had light fire seasons. The Region 3 crew, now operating from Silver City, New Mexico, was increased to 18 and made 105 jumps to 40 fires.

SMOKEJUMPER of 1954 (right) wore a standard football helmet, with a protective mesh mask. His current suit is fire-resistant. Padding at all joints—around neck, ribs, knees, elbows, etc.#151;provides buoyancy that can keep him afloat in emergency water landings. Hand-activated reserve parachute is attached in front. Below it hangs his personal gear bag: sox, underwear, toilet articles, coat, fruit, candy, etc. The larger backpack parachute is opened by static line from plane. The chute harness has quick-release fittings. A rope can be passed under the seat and through "D" rings for use should he land in a tree. The bag on jump suit leg contains 100-foot nylon letdown rope. Snug fitting leather gloves permit smokejumpers to untie knots. High-grade logging boots protect feet and ankles.

Another easy fire season in Region 1 with only 303 jumps to 56 fires. The Region 3 crew (3 men from Region 4, 3 from Region 6, and 12 from Region 1) accumulated 123 jumps to 30 fires. These men, all experienced smokejumpers, normally report to Silver City about May 15 and return to their home Regions about July 15 in time for the peak of fire activity in the Northwest.

Region 4 has increased jumper strength to 80 men, based at McCall and Idaho City, Idaho. These units had a busy season and drew on the Missoula base for a total of 126 jumps.

The Region 3 crew had a record year, 227 fire jumps by the 18-man crew.

The Region 1 season developed slowly and did not peak up seriously at any time.

Region 6 jumpers had an exceptionally active season, averaging almost 11 total jumps per man. Regions 4, 5, and 6 combined drew on the Region 1 unit for 226 jumps on 53 fires.

In January and February the Missoula Aerial Fire Depot hosted the first All-Service Air Operations Conference. This conference was followed by a smokejumper workshop at which the jumper project leaders and technicians approved adoption of two major changes in jump equipment.

1. The H-3 harness which incorporates the Capewell release in lieu of the single-point release box, quick-adjustable leg strap fittings, and other features to improve comfort and safety.

2. A 32-foot backpack canopy (FS-5) to let the heavier men down more easily.

Region 5 activated a smokejumper unit of 26 men based at Redding, California, and Region 4 expanded their two units as a part of the stepped-up protection under the "Increased Manning Experiment." The various units reported a total of 339 Forest Service smokejumpers making 3,153 jumps for all purposes, topping the previous high of 1953 by 10 jumps.

This record number appeared to result from frequent thunderstorms and fairly active seasons at all bases, rather than from unusually critical conditions in any area.

Region 3 employed a yearlong foreman and increased their jumper crew to 24, made up of an eight-man squad from Region 4 and the balance from Region 1. While based at Silver City, these men made 270 jumps to 96 fires. This operation, mostly on the Gila National Forest, appears to be well established.

This is a Forest Service smokejumper descending toward a forest fire in Montana. Note steering slots at back of parachute canopy. Air escaping from the slots and three lobes or "tails" gives the jumper an 8 mi/h forward speed. He can make a 360° turn in about 8 seconds by pulling down on one of the guidelines (see two dark-colored shroud lines).

The other jumper units experienced rather average-type seasons, but each one did have occasion to bring in outside jumpers during peaks of activity. This fact emphasizes the exceptional mobility and wide range of the smokejumper — in both initial attack and reinforcement.

Officers of the Province of Saskatchewan's Department of Natural Resources report that they still maintain and rely heavily upon the smokejumper unit initiated in 1947. This crew, now numbering 16, is trained and normally headquartered at Prince Albert Airport, moving to a base at Lac LaRonge for critical periods. This is a unique outfit. They take action upon an average of 20 fires a year on which jumping is unnecessary, usually landing on a nearby lake. But the unit is trained to jump when necessary and takes action upon an average of five jump fires a year. They use the Noorduyn-Norseman as a jump plane, exiting through a hole in the belly because of the floats. Jump gear is patterned after the equipment developed by the U.S. Forest Service smokejumpers.

The U.S. Bureau of Land Management activated a 17-man smokejumper unit at Fairbanks, Alaska, in May 1959. The men were all experienced smokejumpers, recruited from the various Forest Service units and given refresher training at Missoula. Assuming continuation of all units on the 1959 scale, the roster of smokejumper crews will shape up about as follows for the summer of 1960: