Become a Montana Smoke Jumper: Skills, Training, and Grit Needed

It is clear that fire season has arrived in Montana. The excess fuel from a wet and mild spring are drying out quickly. Turning much of the state into a tinder box. Now is the moment when the real heroes shine. Protecting our public lands and lives from the threat of devastating wildfires.

Missoula has a rich history of producing some true American heroes. People are willing to jump out of a perfectly good airplane and dive into a raging inferno. Answering the call of duty to protect public lands and surrounding communities. Of course, we are talking about smoke jumpers.

What is smokejumping?

According to the USDA website

Smokejumping was developed as a means of quickly reaching, parachuting to, and initial attacking fires in remote roadless areas. The primary mission of smokejumpers is firefighting. Smokejumpers may be delivered to a fire via helicopter, vehicles, and by foot. Smokejumpers are a national resource and occasionally used as a 20-person Type 1 Crew.

 

Do you have the courage to be a smokejumper?

Much like many jobs these days, experience is preferred. To become a smoke jumper you are required to know your way around a wildfire.

According to the USDA

A total of 12 months general experience (90 days of fire suppression can count towards this year). General experience includes work that provides the candidate skills in the use of hand tools, leadership, safe working procedures, and basic first aid. You may also qualify with a bachelor’s degree or other educational experience related to the field.

Missoula is the home base for the USDA Smoke Jumper School. If you are over the age of 18 and looking for work, plenty of fires continue to burn across the state. Gather some experience fighting fire and you may someday be one of the brave few that jump into fire and fight.