Jobs, Smokejumper
nothing beats being a smokejumper!
more sevil We
Smokejumpers are elite firefighters who risk their lives fighting forest fires in remote
areas. They bravely parachute out of aeroplanes into burning forests, where they quickly
get to work putting the fire out.
A smokejumper's duties are not easy. They have to do long, tough training before they can
become part of a team. Smokejumpers need to be very good parachutists, and know how
to read maps to get out of a forest safely. "To be a smokejumper you need to be very fit,
and able to work for long hours in difficult conditions," says Zach Meyers, a smokejumper
at West Yellowstone. "We train all the time and we're always trying to improve."
When they parachute into a fire zone, they wear a padded jump jacket and trousers, boots,
gloves, a face mask and a helmet. They also carry a backpack with some food and water,
and a fire shelter. The aeroplane drops the tools and equipment they need to fight the fire.
"People think that smokejumpers have a very dangerous job, but we don't see it like that,"
says Zach with a smile. "This job keeps me happy. I love the feeling I get when I jump out of
the aeroplane and fly through the air. I wouldn't want any other job in the world."