Restless Spirits Ep. 3 Smokejumpers

Headquartered in the state of California, we're all too familiar with wildfires and their destructive impact on our communities and the environment. That's why we're proud to support the U.S. Forest Service Smokejumpers, a band of elite firefighters who work across the western states, parachuting in to attack remote wildfires before they can spread further. In our latest episode of Restless Spirits, we met up with Chuck Sheley, retired Smokejumper and Editor of Smokejumper magazine, and Matt Weston, Assistant Operations Manager, California Smokejumpers to learn more about these dedicated heroes. Watch the episode here and then read our extended interview with Chuck.

Who are the Smokejumpers?

Smokejumpers are aerial delivered firefighters, to start with. However, rather than being delivered by a helicopter or something like that, they're delivered by parachute. And they've been doing that for 85 years now.

Smokejumpers are unique in the fact that they can reach wildland firefighters very quick and in isolated areas, areas that are hard to get to; you can't drive to.

Tell us about your involvement with them.

I am the editor, Smokejumper magazine, and a board member of the National Smokejumper Association. I'm a retired wildland firefighter with 34 seasons in wildland firefighting. 19 of those were as a Smokejumper with the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service.

The Smokejumpers' tactics are unique. How effective are they?

I would say that a multitude of large fires can be put out with a quick initial attack. And I've got example after example that I published in the magazine. Can many of these fires be put out? The answer is, very definitely with a quick initial attack.

What type of person makes a good Smokejumper?

If I were going to name the qualities of a Smokejumper: individualism, being able to think and handle a situation. The first person to climb Mount Everest via the East Ridge route, Willi Unsoeld, Cave Junction Smokejumper. The module pilot for Apollo 14, Stuart Roosa, Cave Junction Smokejumper.

There's only been a little over 6000 smokejumpers in the history of the United States, so that is, to me, a fairly elite number.