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2026-03-12 -Short Attention Span Theater-

‘Smokejumpers' leap into wildfires from 3,000 feet to fight blazes

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Posted by Besoeker 2026-03-12 07:08|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [1790 views ] Top

More on the Triple Nickle.

Posted by Besoeker 2026-03-12 07:17|| 2026-03-12 07:17|| Front Page Top

2 When Idaho burned in the '80s, we saw several fire research scientists jump. They were monitoring and reporting wind and ground conditions [fuel, humidity] in the fire's path as well as the ground truth of it's progression. One of their practical specialized skills was digging foxholes and jumping in covered by a aluminum blanket when they were overcome by the fire line and could find no escape.

'Like a freight train': Firefighters describe what it's like riding out a wildfire in a fire shelter, their last resort for safety

Posted by Skidmark 2026-03-12 08:16|| 2026-03-12 08:16|| Front Page Top

3 It was my understanding that smokejumpers dropped at a far lower altitude than 3,000 feet due to winds aloft, thermals, etc. When I was in the service we seldom did static line drops above 1,500 feet.

Posted by Clem+Elmish4239 2026-03-12 08:31|| 2026-03-12 08:31|| Front Page Top

4 "Attack"
They don't fight fires with hoses or anything.
It's all hard work, slashing brush, cutting down trees, all while wearing protective equipment and breathing PM300+ air that the Chinese would think is too polluted. The pay is shitty. And if their leaders screw up they get burned to death.
Kind of like being in the military without the cool toys and port calls.

Posted by Omans Slath8956 2026-03-12 09:07|| 2026-03-12 09:07|| Front Page Top

5 I thought the proper term is/was "smoke-eaters"?

Posted by Seeking Cure For Ignorance 2026-03-12 09:11|| 2026-03-12 09:11|| Front Page Top

6 I thought this quit being a thing except for demonstrations and very controlled environments after too many jumpers confirmed trees and parachuting don't mix, plus being spread out and not equipped with the Mark3 Hollywood Comms Set was getting people lost, (further) hurt, or killed.

Posted by swksvolFF 2026-03-12 09:35|| 2026-03-12 09:35|| Front Page Top

7 /\ ....too many jumpers confirmed trees and parachuting don't mix.

I could have confirmed that.

Posted by Besoeker 2026-03-12 09:57|| 2026-03-12 09:57|| Front Page Top

8 I'm going to take a wild guess here:

Raymond was at a low-key gay bar, sipping on a Manhattan, fishing for a story, while the TV show Fire Country was on and a patron make a lewd pun concerning the show and Smoke Jumping.

That's it! Quick interweb search, click important sounding link, search click, copy paste, AI wash, badda boom "hey barkeep another round, I'm off now."

"Not yet with me, smokey bear." says that other patron.

Journalism.

Posted by swksvolFF 2026-03-12 10:23|| 2026-03-12 10:23|| Front Page Top

9 @ #3 - that was my impression also. They jump static line so 3k sounds high to me. Might have better/steerable chutes? I jumped T-10s in school and MC-1B/Cs in the Corps. 1200'AGL was normal for training. Jumped 1000' w/82nd at Bragg. Jumped 600' out of balloon In Thailand.

Posted by Bangkok Billy 2026-03-12 16:17|| 2026-03-12 16:17|| Front Page Top

10 Balloons are spooky - on a helo or an aircraft you have tons of noise/wind - on a balloon it's just dead quiet and you swan dive out into no air resistance. And of course it's a Hollywood jump!

Posted by Clem+Elmish4239 2026-03-12 16:51|| 2026-03-12 16:51|| Front Page Top

11 .....Jumped 600' out of balloon In Thailand.

But, but, but have you ever been a "towed jumper" on a balloon jump ?

* More jump stories please.

Posted by Besoeker 2026-03-12 19:45|| 2026-03-12 19:45|| Front Page Top

23:10 Rambler
22:59 SteveS
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20:47 Woozle Glaper2749
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19:43 Frank G
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17:40 Abu Uluque
17:20 Seeking Cure For Ignorance
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