Missoula's SmokeJumper Center

After visiting Sharon the 3 of us drove back into Missoula to visit the Missoula Smokejumpers Training Center.  There we learned about the life of a smokejumper, the history of how they came about and the science of fighting fires.  Smokejumpers are the people who are dropped from a plane, parachuting down near a fire, and extinguish the fire before it becomes a major wildfire.  Most of the time you will never know about these jumps.  Only when a fire gets out of control and becomes classified and aerial support is brought in do you hear about it.  The difference between a smokejumper and a hotshot (remember the Yarnell Fire of 2013 where 19 hotshots died?) is:  a smokejumper is parachuted down near the fire in its earliest stages and attempts to extinguish the fire whereas the hotshots are brought in via ground, fighting the wildfire if the smokejumpers were unable to extinguish it.  Smokejumpers go to areas that cannot be reached by ground.

The different planes/helo's that drop retardant on wildfires

Have seen all of these in action where wildfires broke out near us

What their gear/equipment looks like

We heard again about he Mann Gulch Fire that happened in 1949 in the area called Gates of the Mountains.  We were on a boat ride last summer and learned about it then.  Based on that fire and the disaster that happened, the science of fire fighting changed and new techniques were developed.

Room set up for sewing - I like these people!  Must know how to sew.

Parachutes waiting to be inspected, repaired if need, then packed

Master rigger just finishing packing a parachute

Their training and requirements are amazing.  They cannot weigh more than 200 pounds nor less than 120.  Typical age that a smokejumper begins their service in mid to late 20's, have to be qualified and have previous firefighting experience.  Very select get in.  Mandatory retirement age is 57.

Sharon thought she might try out 

Once a fire is spotted by aerial planes or by a lookout, the crew is assembled and board their plane within minutes.  They have 10 minutes to get dressed, checked out that their gear is in order, and on the plane.  And, their packs that they carry are 100 pounds.  100 pounds!!!  We witnessed a group of smokejumpers that had just returned from the Canadian wildfire going on in upper Alberta near the Tar Fields and they had their packs slung casually over their shoulders like they weighed 5 pounds.

Supply packs ready for next call

List of items to be packed

What is packed inside jumper's pack

Each jumper has their locker - ready for a call

Jumpers returning from Alberta's fire

Roster as to who goes next on call - rotation basis

A guided tour included the FREE admission to their visitor's center and we were shown the many facets of their lives as a smokejumper.  From sewing their own gear (or repairing it), to the parachute inspection and repair, packing of the chutes (must be qualified to do this), to the area where supplies are staged and packed.

So interesting!  Not enough credit is given these people.  And the physics of the men we saw - talk about in shape.  Have to be to carry their 100 pound packs, to work in conditions of extreme heat, to backpack out all their stuff, to hike unknown lengths with all that equipment, to go long periods without sleep.  Wow!!  How brave!

Inside the plane that smokejumpers take - little as 8 and
no more than 16 will go to fire

Supply pack ready to be dropped

After visiting the smokejumper center we visited the Museum of Mountain Flying.  Some old planes were there, helicopters, great display of smokejumpers over the years.  Sharon really liked this because she used to fly small planes in her younger days and she could relate to many of the planes shown.