Smokejumpers are firefighters trained to jump from fixed-wing aircraft to manage wildfires in remote areas. They work in rugged terrain, putting out up to 90% of fires before they become dangerous. Smokejumping dates back to the late 1930s, and some nations find it worth the cost to maintain them. Smokejumpers are expert skydivers and constantly train to keep their skills sharp. Those interested in a career as a smokejumper can apply to regional fire schools, but should be in peak physical condition and willing to train hard for several years.
A smokejumper is a firefighter trained to deploy from fixed-wing aircraft. Several nations, including the United States, Canada, Russia and Mongolia, keep large numbers of smoke bombs on the national payroll to manage wildfire outbreaks in remote regions that are difficult to access. This job, as you can imagine, can be extremely dangerous, and is even considered very glamorous by some people, as it combines the skills of a firefighter with the daring of jumping from an airplane into the path of an oncoming fire.
As a career, smokejumping dates back to the late 1930s when several countries began experimenting with the use of smokejumpers to manage forest fires. Typical smoke crews manage small fires, working quickly to put them out so they don’t spread; a smoke team may also decide to call in reinforcements if it becomes clear they will be unable to control the fire. They typically work in rugged, remote terrain that is difficult to access, giving fire crews an edge in fighting a fire before it becomes large and dangerous.
Some people think that a career as a smoker must be awfully exciting, and it certainly is during the summer months when flare-ups are extremely common. Smokejumpers take turns staying in various locations around the world, ready to deploy in regional and distant fires, and in reality much of their work is quite mundane, since they put out up to 90% of the fires they tackle before these fires get big. enough to request assistance.
While the cost of training and maintaining an individual smoker is high, some nations find it worth it, as the damage associated with an out-of-control fire can be much higher. Smokejumpers are also cheaper than you might imagine to maintain, classically using fixed-wing aircraft, rather than expensive helicopters, for example, and often working with very basic tools.
While the perception of this job is that it is very dangerous, statistics seem to suggest that it is no more dangerous than other branches of the firefighting field. This is because smokejumpers train a lot and are constantly participating in drills to make sure their skills are sharp. In addition to being thoroughly trained in fire safety, smoke jumpers are also expert skydivers; some are ex-servicemen, using their training and skills in a new context after leaving the military.
If you are interested in a career as a smokejumper, you can apply to regional fire schools that offer smokejumper training. Some prefer smokejumpers with experience fighting forest fires and/or experience as pilots or skydivers, while others are willing to train students from scratch. Either way, you should be in peak physical condition and willing to work and train hard for several years before you can work on the front lines of firefighting.
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