Smokejumpers: Into fire with California's elite firefighters - BBC News

[@MBDmediaman]

My younger brother was a smokejumper for nine seasons ending in 1975. Stationed near Missoula, Montana and then became a cattle rancher near Polson, MT. Had four kids and is retired and very content with his life.

[@irenedavo3768]

Michael Difani never heard of fire jumpers in UK!

[@wyattblack7437]

Montana for lifes

[@twelvetwenty-two353]

Had four kids and is retired and very content with his life. 😂

[@jeffreymuu5451]

Michael Difani I would do that but I just can’t handle working for the government.

[@mwnciboo]

@@irenedavo3768 we don't need them, we are smaller than most States! Plus we don't have any significant wilderness left - 70 million people vs California which is like 3 states in one with 45million people. Most US states are not that well populated.

[@rgbii3224]

Hats off to these guys and gals who do this.

[@jimcrawford3259]

They are pussies

[@AmrothPalantir]

Guys and gal*, only one female.

[@50shadesofcerakote]

@@jimcrawford3259 that bait is too obvious

[@franktibbitts3117]

Same physical standards for men and women, that's all I needed to hear. That's equality!

[@bigfootsas4920]

Frank Tibbitts apart from the fact women can’t do stuff as good as men

[@firelinefitness6496]

@Bigfoot SAS, those women probably have more testosterone than you do.

[@alank4558]

@@bigfootsas4920 Generally men are stronger but I still gotta give props to the women in this field. Equal standards? As long as she can reach those standards, great.

[@Tarheel13]

jim crawford You do it tough guy.

[@Tarheel13]

jim crawford idiot

[@utulangi6078]

Hats off to these guys and all fire fighters and first responders during this fire season. May God keep you safe.

[@sd0372]

“Its like 1500 feet height which isnt that high". Me afraid of going to my roof: confused screaming.

[@spacechimp3199]

He was talking about it in the sense that it’s more dangerous jumping that low

[@tylernewell9650]

In terms of skydiving the static jump that they do is 1500 ft where as recreational sky diver jump at 10,000 ft.

[@sd0372]

@@tylernewell9650 holy shit!

[@jedidiah5131]

@@tylernewell9650 Actually you can do static line- freefall at any height....and usually your first civy jumps are static line-5000'.

[@tylernewell9650]

@@jedidiah5131 Except that in the video they specifically say the smoke jumper jump at 1500 ft meaning very low compared to civvies. Most freewill jumps recreationally is done between 10,000 and 14,000ft can it be ant height sure, but thats not the normal.

[@cloud9847]

I used to skydive with a smoke jumper. Dude was one of the coolest people you'd ever meet. Sadly he passed on a base jump cliff strike several years ago. Smoke Jumpers are a special breed for sure.

[@cowboyanimal_1]

I'm a smokejumper myself. I get high in my motel room and jump on the bed. It's quite a rush.

[@hekk_u]

Fly them to straya now

[@pappapalps9287]

@@hekk_u there r american fire fighters here already helping out

[@Alygoola]

Watch out for those ceiling fans

[@tremblence]

"Elite FF" my ass These firefighters can't do shit they are pathetic Actually its mostly the democrats that cause that level of uselessness

[@twoface_janus]

J Doyle so the democrats are making the fire fighters useless? What are you doing for your community? Smoking dope? Talk about useless...

[@pauldonvito6169]

Immense respect to the guys and girls of the smokejumpers, Signed, Ex-paratrooper

[@JeremiahKidwell]

Damn bro, you're so cool. Did you like jump out of planes for the army or something

[@jacobkudrowich]

@@JeremiahKidwell that's what paratroopers do...

[@romanboss22]

A good jumper would have slipped away from that tree at the end.

[@AnthonyBlamthony]

@@JeremiahKidwell No he drove a boat

[@JRJ0306]

Just complete airborne school didn’t know firefighters had something like this

[@piercemorgan9711]

When you get 15 kills in modern warfare and you get a juggernaut airdropped

[@calebp1423]

Lol

[@crazychipmunk3562]

"i feel like i have 40 older brothers" damn they all just got friend zoned

[@Gwiedert]

Crazychipmunk 356 She's basically a dude...sooo

[@-.._.-_...-_.._-..__..._.-.-.-]

I'm sure they're all mature enough to prefer it that way.

[@brads3104]

😂👍🏻

[@igoramance2665]

Crazychipmunk 356 I’m sure there are some firefighters that put her fire out alright

[@cynthiacler9284]

That last thing in the world you want to be thinking about when your jumping from a plane to fight a fire is pussy, she's doing all them a favor if you think about it.

[@Jake-dh9qk]

"Helljumpers" would be an epic name. Feet first into hell!

[@mark347347]

Halo there, how're you doin'?

[@gunslinger1824]

jim crawford umm, why?

[@jimcrawford3259]

@@gunslinger1824 its feminine

[@Mick-oi3wy]

jim crawford this job isn't exactly gay. It requires pretty big balls

[@xxchipyxx257]

jim crawford you must be hella insecure of yourself lol

[@dewilderdbetter]

As a U S Army paratrooper myself, I just don't have the words for the respect and admiration I have for the courage, bravery, and strength of Smoke Jumpers.

[@ninethreefivesix]

Damn this is hard work. Our firefighters work so hard. Bless them.

[@T-Even_phage_destroyer]

Once I graduate highschool in 1 1/2 years I'm most likely going straight for wild fire suppression jobs. Nature is wonderful and I don't want to see it gone when I have kids. Sure some fire is good but we need to control it. Much respect smokejumpers

[@rizzonator18]

Fire has been around long before humans and trees still exist. Firefighters aren't needed.

[@highrockramblers9998]

rizzonator18 They're needed when it's your house and you inside of it

[@J0xxe]

Dude it's not going anywhere because of wildfires... Burnt out forest will be a lot greener in a year than it was before the fire. Just a natural thing.

[@456isuperduper456]

they are needed when the wildfire is caused by an arsonist or on accident by a person.

[@JohnDoe-yq5bd]

A. Salgado chances are he didn't actually go for it or tried and realized not everybody can do it.

[@DoLo_XO]

as a former paratrooper, (airborne infantryman- 82nd) i thought about this at one time.

[@signs80]

DoLoMyte000 You gotta have balls of steel to do this. You ever see what happens when the fire flashes up in the forest while they're down there? it's like a 40 foot tidal wave of flames that burn you alive

[@DoLo_XO]

yeah i understand, i no longer have desire to do that. I became a respiratory therapist after my jumping days instead.

[@BrokenRRT]

DoLoMyte000 - just saw your comment. I'm an RT also but wanted to to this out of northern Nevada years ago. What state are you in?

[@jedidiah5131]

He already haD balls of steel as a paratrooper.....

[@scottyflintstone]

strangely, they dont seem to want ex military!

[@jyuja]

True heroes these firefighters! God bless you and protect you!

[@southernwulf530]

Well I think the people who defend this great nation called United States of America is true hero's

[@somethingsomethingusername802]

@@southernwulf530 That's cool

[@mohamedm2518]

I didn't search for this during the Great American Wildfires.

[@physicsdecosmos3049]

Lol click in only to find it's six years ago...

[@JC-DH]

So these guys are jumping out of airplanes in the middle of nowhere near a deadly wildfire, work up to 16 hours a day, sleep in the wilderness for days and people complain about their 9-5 jobs. These people right there are true heroes.

[@nightfighter7452]

These guys would probably complain about a 9-5 too. That's why they aren't working those jobs

[@omransaeed1988]

Or these guys are just desperate for a job and this was the only job that they would probably take them in?

[@Leo1239150]

Hytale Theatre the only job they'd take them for is elite fire fighter? Think again.

[@floored3078]

You can make 100k a year with the overtime pay. Pay starts at $18 as a rookie, 25% increase when you're on a fire, anything over 8 hours is paid at 25%+time n half. The average pay for a 5 year employee is $27hr before the 25% or overtime. 70 hours in 1 week is nearly $3,000.

[@roy6869]

Yes bc most 9-5 jobs are boring as fk compared to this.

These are the real heroes. They skydive to save nature and lives.

[@SgtRock57]

When I was a wee lad, I saw a commercial for these folks and instantly I was smitten with this adventurous life style. Go get em guys 👍🏾

[@manicobservations9605]

These guys are badasses. They're so humble too

[@g_rbz87]

2:15 she just brother zoned 40 dudes in 2 seconds

[@mtksbctk]

Step brother zone i hope 😉

[@alexanderx33]

Yeah and this isn't even alabama😒

[@omransaeed1988]

Yikes, that one person who had a crush on her? He finna jump without a parachute soon after he hears that (●__●)

[@ProAverageGuy]

And you just stole the top comment, 0 for effort.

[@JaredMaxwellFoo]

3:30, don't think that chute opened up lol

[@T-Even_phage_destroyer]

Lol I thought the same thing

[@0623134]

It is probably a "speed ball" like the type used in the military. The cargo is probably packed in a way so it can take a beating on impact. They are used a lot because they give you a lot more accuracy and control on where they land. I doubt the 3:30 package is a fully assembled saw but collapsed in someway. It could also be something completely different as well from the narrative.

[@maxcopping2123]

Jared Maxwell I

[@JT-bg2vy]

I thought the same.

[@rtnote9394]

It isn't a chute it's supposed to make sure it hits the right place

[@dumyboydex776]

1:04 "When you make a good landing and hit the jump spot it's a great feeling" *crashes onto the ground head first*

[@MF-XYLYL]

As a resident of Redding who wants to be a smoke jumper like my uncle, this is very inspiring!

[@J0shua029]

Thank you guys for protecting us every year! Some of us got to return to our homes today in redding California because of you guys and gals! Thank you!!!!

[@Raquel93277]

Just showed my 3 year old daughter this video. With all the fires going on around us right now in CA. she’s been seeing fireman daily. I always stop and thank a fireman/woman for their service. She wants to be one now. I tell her she can be whatever her heart desires. But I love that she wants to be a fire fighter! God bless our firefighters. Each and everyone. ❤🙏🏼🇺🇸🔥

[@Ozeanic]

so they've got special forces in the fire department now..holy shit I can't wait for scuba diving EMS special forces now

[@Iconoclasticful]

Saturation diver medics amigo, check it out!

[@billyfletcher9388]

Smokejunpers are not part of a fire department do some research

[@hernandez0084]

Airborne! You guys are awesome;) how many of you are former paratroopers?

[@thedoobie1]

They aren't using more steerable chutes yet?

[@Futurebeefcake]

1:10 that just looks painful landing

[@quentinmacmillan]

Chase that dude wanted to hit the “jump point” so bad that he just slammed into it

[@mike18699-e]

You do land relatively hard under a round canopy, equivalent to jumping from a wall a few feet high. Jumpers are taught to absorb the impact by doing a 'PLF' or parachute landing fall - basically a roll that gradually takes the energy out of the impact along the side of your body from the feet on up. You can see that landing roll from his point of view. Unless you're jumping a specialised type of parachute that allows you to flare it and thus slow down just before your feet touch, it would be a mistake to try and stand up a landing under a round canopy - it's going to hurt, and you're likely to injure yourself.

[@johnwig285]

@@mike18699-e THIS. which is why military chutes lands harder than commercial chutes.... it all lies in the design

[@AnimMouse]

4:20 this is more painful landing

[@minhtrido969]

@Kurt Erickson hitting the trees seems do not hurt with those clothes huh?

[@robotcarnivalxyz]

David Goggins brought me here

[@MyGoogleYoutube]

If you ever find yourself in Missoula Montana there is a Smoke Jumper Visitor's Center and Museum. I found the tour of a working smoke jumper base to be outstanding and very informational. It was amazing to learn how these brave men and women train, live, maintain and make their own equipment.

[@charliebrown316]

David goggins brought me here lol

[@halfwayhomelesshippy4486]

Looking at the thumbnail: This man is giant! Holy shit!

[@Calatriste54]

Respect from a McCall Rookie, Class of 1982. An eternal Ned.

[@prisondude]

Looks like fun

[@petercampbell1287]

KZbin recommendations gathered us here and in another 6 years we shall meet again

[@bootht99]

With landing areas that large and clear, why don't they utilize a medium size helicopter? Something like a Bell 205 could carry a crew with that gear. Perhaps landing areas aren't usually that easily accessed?

[@lotteman]

I imagine that they want to be ready for ANY landing zone. You dont always have the convenience of a clearing that large when you're out of training. Just like the military says, "train like you fight"

[@signs80]

bootht99 Areas with fire are not the best for helicopters since they're affected by thermal updrafts a lot more

[@sladetheenlightened6767]

Aye. Fire creates its own weather. Rotary wing in those conditions isn't ideal for insertion. There ARE heli-rappeling units, but they're dropped farther from incidents than SJs.

[@bootht99]

I guess i'm really only familiar with wildland fire fighting methods in Canadas boreal forest, where the topography is relatively flat, lots of muskeg, rivers and lakes. If the updrafts are ever so strong that you can't drop off an initial attack crew, the fire has developed to the point where ground crews can do little.

[@sladetheenlightened6767]

True. I know Yankee jumpers assist in the Canadian Rockies because of the adjoined Glacier / Waterton Parks, but not sure about the lakelands or prairies. even in the States, those areas are managed largely by State DNRC and IHC crews. The jumpers, especially those stationed here in Missoula Montana, tend to be inserted into high elevation Wilderness incidents to supplement Type-II IA crews raised from the local District.

[@MrCeezz]

Much respect to all you! May God keep you safe in all fires seasons!

[@alexzen6704]

This whar true heros look like. Jumping in harms way so save others. Proud of our firefighters.

[@RuckingPatagonia]

of the most beautiful and dangerous jobs, greetings from Patagonia Aysén - Chile, to all the brothers of fire.

[@eddievaldi6651]

This seems like a badass career just love it

[@AllisChalmersMN]

Smoke jumpers and hot shots are some of the most bad ass wild land fire fighters around!

[@stevenklingler9376]

"The best part is jumping out of the plane." 😲 I didn't really expect there to be a "best part" 😃

[@andreashansson1238]

I have one word for this guys. Heroes

[@whiterabbittalks4763]

Thank you

[@exfiles1638]

Very Respectful

[@neurobook]

Absolute respect! Stay safe and God Bless all who answer the call!

[@whoknowsidont.5147]

Thank you all. Guts

[@antoniocordova7937]

Mad respect for them. If I had known about this earlier, I'd done it.

[@JustAWriter12]

Pure respect for these guys 🤟

[@1992jkwj]

I used to work as a job coach for a dev. disabled and one of the sites we cleaned is the base in Redding off Airport Road. Neat place to say the least.

[@DraxTheDestroyer]

That must be one of the coolest jobs on earth!

[@MRIPETCTSupportEngineer]

Right about now would be a great time for part 2

[@cebukid70]

Goggins brought me here

[@kidI2oI3oT]

David Goggins does this, he’s former navy seal, super badass dude, who will motivate you like no other

[@Dewbys]

I’m 19 and this is my dream job

[@randlyce]

david goggins showed me here

[@jkara7843]

Pffff real airborne ! Huge respects...

[@ivanaodzak-condron317]

29?! Homey.... you look like you're 49.

[@alexma6956]

Real life heroes, respect!

[@ickytheclown]

I’m looking to get into this once I get out of the military. This is definitely something I would want to do

[@OUTTHEMUDVISUAL]

My respects to all of them I wish guidance and protection for them

[@miguelcarter1949]

The unsung hero’s of the west

[@AntiGravityRoom]

9 brave souls wasnt a good name so they went with Smokejumpers!

[@packbadge]

Man he hit hard there at the beginning.

[@Bauks]

And the end. lol!

[@shadowsrwolf]

because they are using old tech instead of modern stearble parachutes got to love government bs

[@E46TY]

SWolf it is steerable you can see him turning. And those parachutes are a little lighter a little more compact and cheaper

[@mike18699-e]

@@shadowsrwolf the round canopies are steerable - it's just that they have very little forward drive. That makes for limited manoeuvering and relatively hard landings, but also less room for mistakes. Modern 'square' canopies are fantastic but are more prone to malfunction, both on opening and in flight during unpredictable wind conditions such as the updrafts caused by a fire. Round canopies are better suited to low-altitude exits, like the 1,500 feet being demonstrated here.

[@shadowsrwolf]

@@mike18699-e drinking the koolaid i see

[@stupendouslife8128]

TRULY HEROES 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@devangarcia3119]

Bruh does it hurt when you land cuz it looks like you land real hard

[@lyssafashano6747]

I will never forget growing up at this base with my dad and hearing that horn knowing my dad was about to go kick some ass

[@deanbenjamin783]

Being a paratrooper in the army their equipment is very similar to ours, probably jump in without about the same amount of weight in gear. But they can actually steer their parachutes which I envy so much. We also jump at about 1000 to 800 feet which is like a minute in the air and a lot of stuff is going on all at once but jumping out of an aircraft is one of the best rushes you can ever expierence.

[@ThomasTheBandit]

Ya didnt think paratroopers could steer I was curious when I saw the same design with steering lines, still hit a tree though. Smh

[@YakmonSaysItLikeItIs]

Thank you for your service

[@jameswilliam2708]

3:26 tell me if I’m wrong but that firebox did not land well..

[@madelfajardo2466]

They are totally amazing

[@fernandogonzales493]

So? What do smokejumpers do?

[@kellywaggoner6703]

I watch this as the Carr Fire burns out of control! I hope this finds him safe, as well as his whole team.

[@tiko4621]

Watching this as the LNU lightning complex fire tears up CA

[@TJackSurvival]

Beautiful

[@hurtfulcow8451]

Jumping from a plane into a fire is beyond hard core

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

No, they don’t rake.

[@cellardoor199991]

3:33 Does anybody know if that guy pushing the box has to be a smoke jumper or is he just a regular Aircrew guy? I went thru in NACCS when I was younger and am in the CAP as an Aircrewman now.

[@teresamoreno6650]

How amazing are these super hero's amazing!!!!

[@robbrown3495]

Bro that last jump that guy landed like a bag of bricks. Now I ain’t no airborne master, but ya shoulda slipped there bud.

[@andrespatino2761]

How can people dislike? They risk there lives...

[@michaelbarrett3333]

they are the people who failed training camp...

[@TRDPRO312]

Because they pretend to be like a military unit. And because of us forest services fire practices actually have done some harm in some situations.

[@esquad5406]

Look up guts in the Websters. You find a photo of a smoke jumper.

[@bobsaget2958]

why in the hell do they not have some bi-directional control on those canopies? if they do its not enough

[@casmaster]

Much respect, but anyone else die laughing at the jumper going straight into the tree at the end?

[@diane9247]

Oh wow, those guys are really busy right now with the biggest fire in California history. It's all around Redding, CA. I wish them the best!

[@queenpurple6345]

Amazing. Stay safe. 🌟

[@orion3975]

0:48 he's descending in the creative mode

[@googleisfascist9278]

Redding, Ca! Represent

[@samanthasimcox8024]

Any smokejumpers here? I’d be interested to chat about it. I’m a firefighter at the moment but I’m pretty interested in applying for this.

[@davewood2640]

It's cool and all but is it nessesary? With the extra chute equipment this seems less efficient when you could carry more fuel or heavier protection. What about repeling.

[@Dantick09]

I want a job like that, that is amazing

[@mwnciboo]

I do have to ponder the wisdom of jumping into clearings with the associated risks? Buy some Chinnooks and de-risk this, they fly quick can carry more kit, worst comes to the worst you can fast rope down. Smoke jumping seems a highly dangerous way to deploy and a limited amount of equipment and personel. I'm sure there is reason but seems like the people are more expendable than the equipment.

[@xxxxxx7469]

Haha ok thats cool and all but now for the real questions...where do they get the water from?

[@xxxxxx7469]

@extremely crappy channel Yeah they probebly dig firetrenches

[@GaoDaHoi]

These people are really needed in Indonesia.....NOW!!!

[@RAdiumxd]

Anybody in 2020 after western wildfires?

[@nemochicky4697]

They’re about as high as Army Airborne students

[@mustafajamal39]

This was 5 years ago Is every one having deja vu?!!!

[@alphacentauri7381]

Firefighter Airborne unit calls airdump on indirect Fire 03:52

[@mdsk7623]

Calling in water strike on my location