1740 SE Ochoco Way Brian Janes, a 44-year-old smokejumper at Redding, has visited the Siskiyou Smokejumper Museum three times to talk to retired crew members, who fought fires in the 1950s and 1960s, about what has changed and what has stayed the same. Front Row (L-R): (Rookies) Shane Taylor, Melissa Moore, Gabe Dommershausen, Josh Ross, Rubel Aguilar, David Neydlin, Luke Bromley, Douglas Thomas, Sam Johnson, Nick Foey. The RAC is hosted by the Deschutes National Forest and isabout 30 minutes driving time from the Central Oregon communities of Bend, Sisters, and Prineville. Although this first experiment was not pursued, another began in 1939 in Washington's Methow Valley, where professional parachutists jumped into a variety of timbered and mountainous terrains, proving the feasibility of the idea. www.nifc.gov National Interagency Fire Center 3833 S. Development Avenue Boise, ID 83705-5354 (208) 387-5512 Candidates must be in top physical condition and capable of performing arduous duties. | "Jim" Kahl ( North Cascades 1966 ), Dean N. longanecker ( North Cascades 1968 ), James L. "Jim" Hagemeier ( Missoula 1957 ), Charles R. Mansfield ( Cave Junction 1959 ), James A. Robert Hough, North Cascades Smokejumper from 1951-1955, describes conquering fear during a fire--when he was stuck in a tree while the fire was growing downslope from his location. Northwest the Redmond Smokejumpers in Redmond, Oregon. A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States. During surgery at the hospital they found six fractures and placed three plates and 10 screws to repair the damage. In 1942, permanent jump operations were established at Winthrop, Washington, and Ninemile Camp, an abandoned Civilian Conservation Corps camp (Camp Menard) a mile north of the Forest Service's Ninemile Remount Depot (pack mule) at Huson, Montana, about 30 miles (48km) northwest of Missoula. We are starting this GoFundMe in order to help Ben and his family through this tough time. From the start, smokejumpers have made and repaired their own gear. 111 Airport Road They became part of a large civilian and military mission, called Operation Firefly, to find and disarm paper balloons with incendiary bombs launched from Honshu, Japan, to start forest fires in the U.S and cause panic. Guided tours are free; the nonprofit, all-volunteer museum welcomes donations (541-441-4804, SiskiyouSmokejumperBase@gmail.com). "Bill" Morin ( Missoula 1946 ), Vernon Eugene Sylvester ( Missoula 1947 ), Forest Frank "Woody" Liebe ( Missoula 1954 ), Daryle T. Starkovich ( North Cascades 1958 ), Herb William Krissie ( Cave Junction 1946 ), William H. "Bill" Roberts ( Cave Junction 1958 ), Marshall Felix Sullivan ( Missoula 1958 ), Paul Edward Sulinski ( North Cascades 1959 ), Ray John Farinetti ( Cave Junction 1964 ), Walter "Bud" Lloyd ( North Cascades 1949 ), Marshall Eugene Spencer ( Missoula 1942 ), Keith V. Fitzjarrald ( North Cascades 1963 ), Jack G. Heintzelman ( Cave Junction 1943 ), John C. "Pat" Harrison ( Missoula, 1975 ), Jack Albert Fitzjarrald ( North Cascades 1962 ), Philip Daniel Davis Jr. ( Missoula 1948 ), Donald Oliver Whitmarsh ( Missoula 1942 ), Thomas Wiaotte Marshall ( Missoula 1949 ), James S. "Jim" Diederich ( Redding 1970 ), Richard Allen Strohmyer ( Missoula 1977 ), William R. "Bill" Terrill ( Missoula 1973 ), Leland M. "Hardrock" Jensen ( McCall 1969 ), Charles F. "Chuck" Paluso ( Missoula 1951 ), Eugene Patrick Dougherty ( Missoula 1948 ), Willard Stanley Krabill ( Cave Junction 1945 ), Charles D. "Chuck" Parker ( Missoula 1947 ), Don G. Fitzjarrald ( North Cascades 1962 ), Harold J. All rights reserved. Photo via Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Organization. Smokejumpers can get to remote fires safely and quickly, helping keep high-risk fires small. Redmond Air Center (Mike McMillan/National Smokejumper Association). It was a big world out there and we all wanted our piece of it, said Gossett, who lives in Central Point and contributes to the smokejumper museum. All rights reserved. We are starting this GoFundMe in order to help Ben and his family through this tough time. Tanker 163 at Redmond, June 13, 2016. One chapter explains the secret mission conducted in Oregon by the famous 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion, an all-Black paratrooper unit of the U.S. Army, formed on Dec. 30, 1943 in Fort Benning, Georgia. Only one member, PFC Malvin L. Brown, was killed on August 6, 1945, after falling during a let-down from a tree in the Umpqua National Forest near Roseburg, Oregon. This air center serves as a hub for regional training, aviation resources and wildland firefighting support in the Pacific Northwest. The rest of the building holds pieces of history, from color-coded signal streamers to a triangle-shaped table used to repair silk, later nylon parachutes. the North Cascades Smokejumpers in Winthrop, Washington. His death is the first recorded smokejumper fatality during a fire jump. Copyright, Browse Colleges, Departments, and Programs. 1001 SW Disk Dr., Suite 105, Bend, Oregon 97702 [5], The examples and perspective in this article, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "History of Smokejumping | US Forest Service", "These are the airborne firefighters that handle the most intense wildfires", BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, Fire Season, Episode 1, US Forest Service - National Interagency Smokejumper Training Guide, CPS Unit Number 103-01, World War II Smokejumpers, Smokejumpers and Smokejumping: Information and Photos, Spotfire Images: Quality Smokejumper and Fire Photos, US Forest Service list of smokejumper bases, Nick Sundt Smokejumpers Oral History Project, Civilian Public Service Smokejumpers Oral History Project, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smokejumper&oldid=1106760306. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. The volunteer-run Siskiyou Smokejumper Museum is officially open March 15 through Nov. 15 each year. Busty Roggow ( North Cascades 1954 ), Edwin Del Mar Del Jaquish ( Cave Junction 1949 ), F. Steven Steve Culbertson ( North Cascades 1963 ), Douglas Ellis Digger Daniels ( Missoula 1961 ), Edgar H. Ed Hinkle ( Cave Junction 1950 ), William Lyman Bill Obe Floyd ( McCall 1953 ), Robert Neil Cummings ( Cave Junction 1948 ), James Ray Clinkingbeard ( Missoula 1949 ), Dennis Wayne Denny Lewis ( North Cascades 1968 ), James Scott Jim Sleight ( McCall 1977 ), Albert Theodore Al Stillman ( McCall 1959 ), Christopher Richard "Chris" Palmer ( Redding 1975 ), Julio Bernardo Bilbao ( Idaho City 1964 ), Albert N. "Al" Boucher ( Cave Junction 1949 ), Ronald M. "Ron" Van Noy ( Missoula 1953 ), William Everett "Bill" Hornumg ( Missoula 1959 ), Charles Edwin "Charlie" Cummings ( Missoula 1955 ), Wallace D. "Wally" Henderson ( McCall 1946 ), Gordon Mitchell Woodhead ( Redding 1983 ), James Leroy "Jim" Wright ( Cave Junction 1953 ), Phillip M. "Mike" Hodge ( Cave Junction 1954 ), Dell Harold Thornton ( North Cascades 1966 ), James Eugene Putnam ( North Cascades 1948 ), Richard Emmett Pratt ( North Cascades 1966 ), Jay Emerson Decker ( North Cascades 1963 ), David James "Dave" Graham ( Redding 1970 ), Edward Ray Summerfield ( North Cascades 1947 ), Michael Joseph Sullivan ( Missoula 1949 ), Jerry Turner Sparkman Jr. ( McCall 1946 ), Richard Roy Simons ( North Cascades 1960 ), John Eldon Shallenberger ( Cave Junction 1951 ), Phillip E. "Butch" Taylor ( Redding 1969 ), Thomas "Tom" William Milligan ( Missoula 1951 ), Marvin Basil Robertson ( Fairbanks 1966 ), Ernest Armour Zecha Jr. ( Missoula 1946 ), Charles Jeffrey "Chuck" Kase ( La Grande 1974 ), Orval W. "Bill" Gastineau Jr. ( Missoula 1963 ), Charles J. They are inserted at the site of the fire by parachute. The safety and well-being of each smokejumper on an assignment depends on the ability of each individual to pull his/her own weight. Send help right to the people and causes you care about. When called, they drop fearlessly from the sky, apply fire science and physical strength to battle one of the most powerful forces on the planet, then emerge from the smoke, triumphantly, like an Indiana Jones-style James Bond. Ben Elkind sustained a dislocated hip and pelvic fracture during a hard landing. They tended to be well-behaved, self-motivated, and responsible. Visit spotfireimages.com for more photos and videos. Filtered natural daylight mimics light in a forest and permeates through the building. Prior to the full establishment of smokejumping, experiments with parachute insertion of firefighters were conducted in 1934 in Utah and in the Soviet Union. West Yellowstone Smokejumpers WYIFC Box 610 West Yellowstone, MT 59758 (406) 646-7691. Candidates must do seven pull-ups/chin-ups, 45 sit-ups, 25 push-ups, and a 1.5 mile run in less than 11 minutes (McCalls elevation is 5000). a GoFundMe page has been set up for Ben's family by the Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Organization, an often necessary step taken by many federal firefighters who are injured . Robert Parcell, Missoula Smokejumper from 1971, 1980-1983, and 1987, and Grangeville Smokejumper from 1972-1974, talks about a fire where he sustained a minor injury from a falling rock. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of the Oregonian Media Group. Thirteen firefighters died during the blowup, 12 of them smokejumpers. It is time to either sideline the square or shut down the SMJ program. On the walls of the former Siskiyou Smokejumper Base headquarters, now the museum gallery, are crew portraits, one for each of the 39 fire seasons the base operated. The Redmond Smokejumper Welfare Or. Eastern Washington University has not been able to identify the copyright holder and considers this an orphan work. Great Basin Smokejumpers. Northern Rockies the Missoula Smokejumpers in Missoula, Montana. Of course, they're best known for their ability to parachute out of airplanes to reach the fire. Smokejumpers are wildland firefighters who parachute into remote areas to suppress wildland firesand theyre characters, to the last. All applicants must meet specific medical, physical, and firefighting work experience requirements to be considered for these positions. Select Stories Were all hurting but I know he needs help. Vision: Must be free from acute or chronic eye disease. The first base recruits were World War II conscientious objectors, pacifists by philosophy or religion. Not pictured: Ryan McCliment, Joe Madden, Ted Piehl, Jeff Coburn, Garrett Allen, Jason Barber, Craig Hingley, Grant Davis, Josh Cantrell, Ryan Koch, Dan Norskog, Justin Wood. Redmond smokejumper Ben Elkind learned the pain of a hard landing and the financial fallout all at once last Sunday. Now you can display that proud spirit with our fine line of Smokejumper merchandise. "Chuck" Viviano ( West Yellowstone 1953 ), Ronald Brian "Ron" Versteeg ( Cave Junction 1978 ), Benjamin R. "Benny" Tucker ( Cave Junction 1959 ), John Willard Taucher ( North Cascades 1946 ), Dennis Allen "Denny" Taipole ( North Cascades 1953 ), Clarence Dwayne Teichert ( Idaho City 1955 ), Charles G. "Jack" Harter ( Cave Junction 1951 ), Lowell Manfred "Manny" Haiges ( Missoula 1958 ), Frederick Charles Pearson ( McCall 1948 ), Phillip Adrian Rabideau ( North Cascades 1949 ), Wallace Wayne "Wally" Loudon ( North Cascades 1952 ), Joseph Hugh "Joe" McCauley ( North Cascades 1948 ), Darwin Thomas Miller ( Cave Junction 1951 ), Frederick "Fred" Michelotti ( Cave Junction 1949 ), Albert Charles "Chuck" Michael ( Missoula 1954 ), John Laurence McLaughlin ( Missoula 1959 ), William Benjamin McFadgen ( Missoula 1960 ), Donald Kurt "Don" MacKey ( Missoula 1987 ), Clarence Earl Keeley ( North Cascades 1956 ), John Raymond "Jack" Lyman ( Missoula 1946 ), Delano Gerald "Zeke" Lund ( Cave Junction 1952 ), Newton Hopkins Linebarger ( Fairbanks 1985 ), Benjamin S. "Ben" Andres ( Redding 1962 ), Michael Allen Lehman ( Cave Junction 1958 ), Sheryl Terry Kirchner ( North Cascades 1958 ), Douglas Norman "Hoppy" Hopkins ( Cave Junction 1962 ), Robert Alvin Harrison ( Cave Junction 1957 ), Edwin Lewis "Ned" Hauptner ( North Cascades 1948 ), Raymond E. "Ray" Marshall ( McCall 1951 ), Charles Evans Garrison ( Missoula 1947 ), Lawrence Ralph "Bud" Dunn ( Missoula 1946 ), Eugene H. "Gene" DeBruin ( Missoula 1959 ), Ronald L. "Dan" Daniels ( Grangeville 1954 ), Harvey Ellis Cotner ( North Cascades 1968 ), William Alexander Calder III ( Missoula 1953 ), Roger A. Tony Johnson, Redmond Base Manager (541) 504-7280 Deschutes NF . Aerial Fire Depot Photo via Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Organization. If you are new to smokejumping make sure you are applying for a GS-5 rookie smokejumper position. Remember, these are just the minimums. ( Redmond 1974 ) posted: Jan 25, 2023 Edward M. Arnett ( Missoula 1945 ) posted: Jan 18, 2023 Harold William Flake ( Idaho City 1961 ) Please consider donating to help a firefighter and his family while they support each other on the road to recovery. Really sad to hear of Bens injury. Please consider donating to Ben and his family. During training smokejumper candidates are required to demonstrate their ability to pack 110 pounds of gear a distance of three miles in 90 minutes or less, over a level course. The first fire jumps were made by Rufus Robinson and Earl Cooley at Rock Pillar near Marten Creek in the Nez Perce National Forest on July 12, 1940, out of Ninemile, followed shortly by a two-man fire jump out of Winthrop. We were able to collect stories from smokejumpers representing every decade from the 1940s to present during (and around) the reunion. When it comes to individual courage and group teamwork, Ive yet to meet their equals, said Fattig. Firefighting groups across the country donate irreplaceable equipment, like century-old sewing machines, to the Siskiyou museum for safekeeping. By 1939, the program began as an experiment in the Pacific Northwest Region (Region 6). the most authentic World War II-era smokejumper museum, fronted by two, 1940s Beechcraft jumper planes, Smokejumper to Global Pilot: A True Odyssey,, The Mouse that Soared: Tales of the Siskiyou Smokejumpers,. Deschutes NF, North Cascades Smokejumpers (FS) Owens success, even though he didnt meet the height and weight requirements, opened doors for women to become smokejumpers, Fattig found after interviewing Deanne Shulman, the first woman smokejumper. The non-profit National Smokejumper Association is dedicated to preserving the history of airborne firefighters of the past and . Other fire-related operations at the Redmond Airport include the Redmond Smokejumpers, the Northwest Fire Training Center, the Redmond Hotshots, and the Regional Air Group which supplies pilots for the jumpers and lead planes. In an ironic twist, a GoFundMe page has been set up for Bens family by the Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Organization, an often necessary step taken by many federal firefighters who are injured on the job. Stationed at Pendleton Field, Oregon, with a detachment in Chico, California, 300 unit members participated in firefighting missions throughout the Pacific Northwest during the summer and fall of 1945, earning the nickname "Smoke Jumpers". (Map It! | Tanker 44 at Redmond, June 13, 2016. Interagency Hotshots, Redmond Smokejumpers and the Interagency Support Cache. The biggest difference: Decades ago, the goal was to suppress a small wildfire before it spread. Thats a stupid statement. Many smokejumpers were hired by Air America, a covert CIA airline that dropped cargo in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. The Siskiyou Smokejumper Museum (siskiyousmokejumpermuseum.org) is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily March 15-Nov.15 at 30902 Redwood Highway (Oregon Highway 199). Others also worked for NASA as well as federal intelligence agencies. Smokejumping was first proposed in 1934 in the Intermountain Region (Region 4), by Regional Forester T.V. Rod Dow was a smokejumper in McCall and Alaska for 32 memorable seasons. The Interagency Hotshots, the Redmond Smokejumpers, and the Pacific Northwest Training Center call RAC home. (c) 2023 Oregonian Media Group, a subsidiary of Advance Local Media LLC. | Just a Few Jumper Stories - by Rod Dow. the North Cascades Smokejumpers in Winthrop, Washington. The North Peace Smokejumpers in Fort Saint John, British Columbia. However, due to the quantity of applicants, quality applicants are encouraged to have at a minimum 3-4 years of fire experience with a diverse background of work experience on a good organized crew such as hotshot, helitack, engine, and Type 2 Initial Attack crews, qualified to the FFT1 and ICT5, possess leadership experience, and have a safety conscious attitude. Great Basin the Boise Smokejumpers in Boise, Idaho. Please keep in mind our commenting ground rules before you post a comment. Ben Elkind sustained a dislocated hip and pelvic fracture during a hard landing. The Smokejumper Project had become a permanent establishment of the USFS in 1944. The longer, more intense fire seasons also require increased time allotted for training to safely operate in an increasingly complex fire environment.. Don Skei, Redmond Smokejumper from 1969-1973, describes an amusing story about some visiting Cave Junction smokejumpers who got into a little trouble getting back to the base after spending the evening in Bend, OR. Order some as gifts for friends! > The doctors took him into surgery and found 6 fractures, placing 3 plates and 10 screws in order to fix the damage. Photo via Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Organization. NSA Trails Restoration & Maintenance Project Specialists, Smokejumper Cow Pasture Campout II-Update 4/4/23, TRAMPS scholarship program makes its debut -- click here for details, Son of smokejumper coaches NCAA team that recorded major upset, Happy birthday to Howard Barnett (MSO-64), Challenge coin featuring historical bases of smokejumping, (TRAMPS) NSA Trails Restoration & Maintenance Project Specialists, Daren Belsby-Good Luck on Your End Of Jumping, Wildland Firefighters Not Served Well By Albuquerque Service Center. In addition to passing the physical training test, prospective smokejumpers must meet the following requirements: Height: Must be not more than 77 inches or less than 60 inches tall without shoes. Ed Lynn, Missoula Smokejumper from 1995-1997, 2007-Present, Grangeville Smokejumper from 1998-2000, and McCall Smokejumper from 2004-2006, talks about a fire in Wyoming in the Bridger-Tetons where they were treated to coffee on the fireline by some locals. Hello, the Redmond Smokejumper Welfare Organization is starting this fundraiser on behalf of Smokejumper and Wildland Firefighter Ben Elkind after he sustained a pelvic fracture on a parachute training jump. Many of the crew are legendary for parlaying smokejumping skills into other careers. Any smokejumper candidate unable to meet these minimum physical requirements must be dropped from the program. Alaska Smokejumper 50th Reunion, June 5-6 2009 by Buck Nelson, Fairbanks '81 | posted: 2008-12-22 15:52:16. Photo by Bill Gabbert. PO Box 35005 the West Yellowstone Smokejumpers in West Yellowstone, Montana. The roofs and the canopy are over-emphasized, like the parachute of a smokejumper, and create a spacious feeling indoors. The FBI found no evidence that the fugitive was a smokejumper. ), USFS Smokejumpers Training Center Redmond, OR, Sunriver Public Safety Building Sunriver, OR, Crook County Justice Center Prineville, OR, Deschutes County Courtrooms Renovation Bend, OR, Unity Community Hall Renovation and Fire Station Expansion. [4], The minimum required physical fitness standards for smokejumpers set by the National Wildfire Coordinating Group are: packout 110 pounds (50kg) for three miles (4.8km) within 90 minutes; run 1.5 miles (2.4km) in 11 or fewer minutes; 25 push-ups in 60 seconds; 45 sit-ups in 60 seconds; and seven pull-ups. Northwest - the Redmond Smokejumpers in Redmond, Oregon. They were pretty tough, said Janes, who lives in Ashland and trained rookied in 2014. The Siskiyou Smokejumper Museum (siskiyousmokejumpermuseum.org) is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily March 15-Nov.15 at 30902 Redwood Highway (Oregon Highway 199). Memorable Fires Fred Cooper, North Cascades Smokejumper from 1962-1963 and Redmond Smokejumper from 1964-1967, describes a couple of memorable fires he jumped in Oregon and Idaho. Highly trained smokejumpers created a glamorous public image for the forest service a year before the fictional fire prevention spokesman Smokey Bear made his debut in 1944. Weight: Must weigh at least 120 pounds but no more than 210 pounds without clothes. He also talks about childhood excursions to the Mann Gulch fatality site with Norman Maclean. By air or by land, smokejumpers respond to any fire by the most effective and efficient means available. Advertising Terms & Conditions: Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 1/1/2021) and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated 5/1/2021). NSA Trails Restoration & Maintenance Project Specialists, Thomas Sterling Tom Monroe ( North Cascades 1958 ), Rodney D. Rod Snider ( North Cascades 1951 ), Forrest Reed Buster Moore ( Redding 1957 ), Robert J. The Winthrop operation remained at its original location, as North Cascades Smokejumper Base. The Redmond Air Center (RAC) serves as a hub for regional training and wildland firefighting support in the Pacific Northwest. You must indicate the base(s) you are applying for. Bob Rofelty ( Missoula 1957 ), Robert J. I strongly recommend doing what you can to support him and his family during this difficult time. All of us federal fire folks owe him a huge debt of gratitude for the immense amount of time and energy he has put in working towards reclassification, fair pay, and benefits. As of August, 2021, nine smokejumper crews operate in the United States. 166. The rustic buildings, filled with handmade gear and fronted by two, 1940s Beechcraft jumper planes on the runway, represent the earliest days of strategic aerial wildfire suppression. Leonard Blixrud, Missoula Smokejumper in 1953, talks about a couple of incidents mid-jump and reminisces about the parts of smokejumping that he enjoyed most. [citation needed] Many smokejumpers have previous experience as hotshots, who provide a strong foundation of wildland firefighting experience and physical conditioning. Winthrop, WA 98862, Daren Belsby, North Cascades Base Manager ) or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. Gallatin National Forest Box 130 Bozeman, MT 59771 (406) 587-6716. Im sorry to hear this and wish Ben a full and complete recovery. Tour guides at the Cave Junction museum, most often retired smokejumpers like Buck, take people into the 1948 parachute loft, the oldest one in the U.S., where the crew inspected parachutes and jump lines suspended from the high ceiling. "Connie" Orr Jr. ( Missoula 1953 ), Darold C. Thornton ( North Cascades 1969 ), Robert W. "Bob" Manchester ( Missoula 1946 ), Milton "Cookie" Callaway ( Johnson Flying Service pilot ), Charles Morten Clemensen ( Cave Junction 1948 ), Robert Jay "Rob" Talbot ( Missoula 1969 ), James A. ganization is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Smokejumper and Wildland Firefighter Grant Davis. Ben Elkind's family. Oregon author Paul Fattigs new book, The Mouse that Soared: Tales of the Siskiyou Smokejumpers, is full of fascinating true stories of the Cave Junction crew, including Allen Owen, a 4-foot-11-inch smokejumper, better known by his nickname Mouse.. A standard medical form is sent with an offer of employment to those selected. Oregon smokejumpers Retired smokejumper Gary Buck stands in front of 1940s Beechcraft jumper planes on the runway of the Illinois Valley Airport at the Siskiyou Smokejumper Museum. Ben and his wife Amber have two boys, ages 4 and 1. Peter Carpenter, Redding Smokejumper from 1959 through 1961, describes how he came to be a smokejumper and how it transformed his life. Fort Wainwright, AK 99703, https://www.fs.usda.gov/science-technology/fire/smokejumpers/bases. (530) 226-2888, Missoula Smokejumpers (FS) Josh Cantrell, Training Manager The Interagency Hotshots, the Redmond Smokejumpers, and the Pacific Northwest Training Center call RAC home. The Redmond Air Center (RAC) serves as a hub for regional training and wildland firefighting support in the Pacific Northwest. Deschutes County commissioners heard a proposal from the U.S. Forest Service Monday to build a 5,500-square-foot visitor center at the Redmond Smokejumper Base. Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US. Big Reduction in Price for SJ DVD's Photo by Bill Gabbert. Missoula, MT 59808, Tory Kenrick, Missoula Base Manager The base is near six national forests: Nez Perce/Clearwater, Sawtooth, the Boise, Payette, Salmon-Chalis, and Wallowa-Whitman.[2]. They had one radio, maybe, and fewer roads, making early smokejumpers pack outs from a fire four times longer, or more, than the 10 mile average now, Janes said. 95% of the guys I know that switched from rounds to squares are happy they did so. The solution is not just to donate. 5631). The offer is contingent upon submission of a satisfactory physical examination, which must be performed by a licensed physician. "We catch a lot of fires that nobody has any clue even happened," said Hinnenkamp. Multiple factors are analyzed, and then a decision is made as to whether jumping the fire is safe. Accessibility "Bob" Johnson ( Missoula 1951 ), Winton Howard Stucky ( Cave Junction 1943 ), Charles Donald Leaphart ( Missoula 1942 ), Arild Christian Nielsen ( Missoula 1942 ), Thomas Edward McFadden ( Pendleton 1945 ), Benjamin Alexander Skillman ( Missoula 1942 ), Richard L. "Dick" Wessell ( Cave Junction 1956 ), Karl Glades(Nussbacher) ( Missoula 1941 ), Richard A. Began as an experiment in the United States 406 ) 646-7691 get to remote fires and... Firefighting groups across the country donate irreplaceable equipment, like the parachute of a smokejumper and how transformed. Winthrop operation remained at its original location, as North Cascades smokejumper base feeling.... Who parachute into remote areas to suppress wildland firesand theyre characters, to the museum! Present during ( and around ) the reunion smokejumper museum is officially open March 15 through Nov. 15 each.... 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To hear this and wish Ben a full and complete recovery smokejumper museum is officially March. Permanent establishment of the crew are legendary for parlaying smokejumping skills into other careers fires! Smokejumping skills into other careers no redmond smokejumpers than 210 pounds without clothes are over-emphasized like... Regional Forester T.V sewing machines, to the last to pull his/her weight. When it comes to individual courage and group teamwork, Ive yet to meet these minimum physical requirements must free... Submission of a satisfactory physical examination, which must be dropped from the start, Smokejumpers have made and their... By regional Forester T.V light in redmond smokejumpers Forest and permeates through the building 4 ) by. As to whether jumping the fire Northwest training Center call RAC home Media group, a subsidiary Advance... Norman Maclean redmond smokejumpers c ) 2023 Oregonian Media group, a subsidiary of Advance Local LLC. 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Rockies the Missoula Smokejumpers in Boise, Idaho said Janes, who provide a strong foundation wildland...