smokejumpers
Forest fire paratroopers
Smokejumpers are firefighters who parachute into remote wilderness areas to combat forest fires before they spread.
Because many wildfires break out in terrain inaccessible by road, dropping trained personnel from aircraft allows for rapid initial response.
The job requires expertise in both firefighting and skydiving, along with the physical stamina to hike out of rugged backcountry after the fire is contained.
The smokejumpers landed on a ridge above the blaze and began cutting a firebreak.
Flamboyantly successful people
- squadSmall working group
- teamOrganized cooperative unit
- spotterSafety backup person
- loftSpace beneath the roof
rookie · veteran · dispatch · briefing · manifest · rotation · unit · interagency
Intense burning fire
- infernoDevastating, uncontrollable blaze
- conflagrationLarge destructive blaze
- firelineCleared strip blocking flames
- firebreakCleared barrier against flames
backburn · containment · flames · embers · ash · scorched · charred · firestorm
Unimpeded downward motion
- canopyOverhead protective covering
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
- harnessStraps controlling an animal
- riggingRopes controlling ship sails
jumpsuit · altimeter · dropzone · chute · jumpmaster · exit · descent · aircraft
Protective head covering
Uncultivated, uninhabited natural region
- backcountrySparsely populated wilderness areas
- timberlandForested land for lumber
- ridgeNarrow raised strip
- canyonDeep river-cut gorge
slope · clearing · remote · inaccessible · rugged · trailless · mountainous · forest
Boldness before danger
- valorCourage in danger
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
tenacity · fortitude · composure · determination · mettle · risk-taking · selflessness · endurance
hotshots
Flamboyantly successful people
loft · rookie · veteran · dispatch · briefing · manifest · rotation · unit · interagency · overhead
blaze
Intense burning fire
- infernoDevastating, uncontrollable blaze
- conflagrationLarge destructive blaze
- firelineCleared strip blocking flames
firebreak · backburn · containment · flames · embers · ash · scorched · charred · firestorm · combustion
freefall
Unimpeded downward motion
- canopyOverhead protective covering
- deploymentOrganized distribution of resources
- harnessStraps controlling an animal
rigging · jumpsuit · altimeter · dropzone · chute · jumpmaster · exit · descent · aircraft · spotter
helmet
Protective head covering
wilderness
Uncultivated, uninhabited natural region
- backcountrySparsely populated wilderness areas
- timberlandForested land for lumber
- ridgeNarrow raised strip
canyon · slope · clearing · remote · inaccessible · rugged · trailless · mountainous · forest · drainage
bravery
Boldness before danger
- valorCourage in danger
- gritDetermination or abrasive particles
- fearlessnessComplete lack of dread
resilience · tenacity · fortitude · composure · determination · mettle · risk-taking · selflessness · endurance
- firefightingfire station, fire truck, fire engine, firefighter, firefighters
- firefightersfirefighter, firefighters, fireman, fire captain, hotshots
- fire professionalsfirefighters, firemen, fire chiefs, fire marshals, fire wardens
- Wildfireswildfire, grass fire, surface fire, spot fire, fire front
- fire safetyfire alarms, fire drill, fire extinguishers, fire drills, evacuation plan
- public landsnational park, public lands, public land, national forest, state park