Page 16 - July2017

Their average age is 25 and they were chosen for their
forestry experience and firefighting ability.
The plane then circles, returning to drop its human cargo.
The course began June 1 and finished July 15. Before being It is not necessary for the "smoke jumper" to pull a rip
accepted, the men were required to pass a strict medical cord for a cable fastened to a static line and to the
examination, be between the ages of 22 and 32, weigh not parachute performs this function. However, in case his
more than 175 pounds and be "tempermentally stable". chute fails to open, each jumper wears a chest parachute
which he may open by pulling an iron handle.
Just before the plane is over the "target", the jumper
leaves his seat and sits on the edge of the "coal scuttle" .
When the aircraft has reached the proper position over
the target, the jumpmaster taps the jumper on the
shoulder and he slides along the "scuttle" over the float
and begins his descent to the ground.
During seasons when fire hazards are at a minimum, the The jumping part of the operation is actually the easiest
men will be given other work with the resources part; the most difficult being the landing.
department.
When the man hits the ground, his fall is similar to
Before jumping began, the jumping from a 10-foot fence and unless fully
students were given special experienced he may easily suffer a broken leg or ankle.
instruction in first aid, Another problem to overcome is the billowing parachute,
forest fire control, which must be rapidly brought under control before it fills
parachute packing and the with air and drags the jumper along the ground.
theory of parachute However, the men seem more worried about failing to hit
jumping. they were taken the target dead-centre than about injuring themselves.
into the forest, put through An experienced jumper can land within 200 feet of the
special "limbering" up" target.
courses, made "bush wise"
and were taught how to After the "smoke jumpers" hit the ground in a real fire,
escape from high trees by they immediately come together and make plans to fight
ropes they would carry the blaze. Their first step is to gather up the two-man fire
when "smoke jumping". packs containing all the necessary equipment, which have
been dropped separately from the plane. The jumper
himself carries no equipment other than a compass, a
They were taught how to tumble properly after hitting the
ground and were given a stiff course in gymnastics to put sheath knife, a small first-aid kit, two signal streams to let
them in top physical condition. the pilot know he has landed safely, a 90-foot letdown
rope, to be used by the jumper to extricate himself from
trees and a 12-foot release rope to aid him escape from
his harness.
The two-man fire pack is the fire fighter's equipment and
it weighs from 40 to 75 pounds, depending on what
materials and supplies are carried. Each 75-pound pack
contains a six-foot cross saw, a map case, two shovels, a
bedroll for two men, two one-gallon water bags, a
protractor set, a pruning saw, a 15-meal ration, two
pulaski tools, an axe, two pack sacks, two mess tins, two
bottles of mosquito oil, a container of salt tablets, two
headlights and a small radio weighing 28 pounds.

Photos for this article courtesy of With this equipment, the "smoke jumper" must either
Prince Albert Historical Society put out the fire or keep it under control until help arrives
overland.