[NYP] Firefighters have plenty of ways to battle the spread of flames, but some first responders have a different approach to wildfire response.
A smokejumper is a unique type of wildland firefighter that’s trained to reach remote fires by parachuting from about 3,000 feet to attack a designated area, typically without road or trail access, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
This type of response allows firefighters to arrive hours before anyone could hike or drive to a location to extinguish the flames.
These first responders receive intensive training in parachuting, aircraft safety and firefighting tactics, along with specialized skills such as tree climbing, aerial cargo delivery, chainsaw use, parachute equipment manufacturing and prescribed burning. |