USDA Forest Service National Smokejumper Report
USDA FOREST SERVICE
2015
NATIONAL SMOKEJUMPER REPORT
Sheep Creek Fire Bighorn National Forest
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USDA Forest Service National Smokejumper Report
Table of Contents
Introduction
USFS Smokejumper Mission
Permanent USFS Smokejumper Bases
Spike Bases Utilized in 2015
Fire Jumps
All Fire
Single Resource Assignments
Fuels Treatment
Forest Service Ram-Air Program
Glossary
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The #347 Fire near Tanana, AK
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USDA Forest Service National Smokejumper Report
USDA FOREST SERVICE
NATIONAL SMOKEJUMPER PROGRAM
2015 REPORT
Introduction
The mission of the USDA Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of
the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.
Strategic planning objectives to achieve this goal include managing wildland fires efficiently and
effectively and also reducing the risk to communities and natural resources from wildland fire.
This report summarizes the contributions that U.S. Forest Service Smokejumpers made in 2015
to support the agency’s mission and long term objectives of restoring and sustaining resiliency in
the Nation’s forests and grasslands.
The Smokejumper Mission
The primary mission of the U.S. Forest Service Smokejumper Program is to safely provide
professional wildland firefighters to initial attack incidents, capitalizing on the efficiencies of
fixed wing aircraft as the primary means of delivery. As available, smokejumpers will support
extended attack incidents and the agency’s natural resource agenda.
Our goal is to provide the agency with whatever tool best meets the need of fire managers. The
National Smokejumper Program still maintains a strong focus on rapid initial attack of wildland
fires. Aggressive initial attack is the core strength of the Smokejumper Program and where we
show the most efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Our secondary focus is to deploy experienced
firefighters with extensive ICS qualifications for emerging and extended attack incidents.
In addition to fire management undertakings, we provide aviation management expertise, a
workforce for prescribed fire, hazardous fuels reduction, timber stand improvement, exotic pest
eradication, and recreation projects to support interagency landscape based ecosystem
management objectives. Our service is anchored in safety, effectiveness, and flexibility in
partnership with our users and cooperators.
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USDA Forest Service National Smokejumper Report
SMOKEJUMPER BASE LOCATIONS
Smokejumper
Base
Region
Call
Sign
Aircraft
Smokejumpers
Grangeville
R-1
DHC-6 Twin Otter/Leading Edge
J-14
29
Missoula
R-1
Sherpa/USFS
DC3/USFS
CASA 212/Bighorn
J-79
J-15
J-12
65
West Yellowstone
R-1
Dornier 228
Bighorn Aviation
J-13
28
McCall
R-4
Redding
R-5
DHC-6 Twin Otter/USFS
DHC-6 Twin Otter/USFS
DHC-6 Twin Otter/Leading Edge
Sherpa/USFS
Dornier 228/Bighorn Airways
Casa 212/Bighorn Airways
J-41
J-43
J-44
J-51
J-52
J-07
North Cascades
R-6
Casa 212/Bighorn
J-09
28
Redmond
R-6
Sherpa/USFS
Sherpa/USFS
J-73
J-78
44
7 Bases
4 Regions
63
44
301
USFS Smokejumpers
13 Aircraft
2015 TEMPORARY SPIKE BASE LOCATIONS
Temporary
Location
Region
Days
Number of
Personnel
Silver City, NM
R-3
37
31
Miles City, MT
R-1
62
Stead, NV
R-4
Porterville, CA
San Bernardino, CA
Fresno, CA
R-5
Ground
Action
Single
Resource
Total Fire
Assignments
4
1
0
5
23
5
5
8
18
1
11
1
0
0
1
67
5
1
50
10
8
15
0
0
15
4
Fires
Jumped
USDA Forest Service National Smokejumper Report
FIRE JUMPS
USFS Smokejumpers made 1467 Fire Jumps on 275 Fires Nationwide
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West
Redmond
42
48
260
77
Redding
NCSB
35
Missoula
36
McCall
32
420
Fire Jumps
133
209
175
40
Grangeville
0
50
228
100
150
Fires
200
250
300
350
400
Bear Fire Shasta-Trinity National Forest
5
450
USDA Forest Service National Smokejumper Report
ALL FIRE/PRESCRIBED FIRE ACTIONS
West
1547
Redmond
1919
Redding
1564
NCSB
1388
Days on Fire Assignment
Missoula
3614
McCall
2224
Grangeville
2192
0
1000
2000
3000
4000
USFS Smokejumpers spent 14448 days on all fire/prescribed fire actions that equals 48 days per
smokejumper and 4128 days on single resource assignments. In most cases, increases in the use
of smokejumpers for crew actions and single resource assignments correspond to periods of
reduced initial attack activity in specific geographic areas. Smokejumper bases can use their
versatility and flexibility to send a greater number of individuals on collateral assignments.
SINGLE RESOURCE ASSIGNMENTS
Days on Single Resource Assignments
West
351
Redmond
216
Redding
134
NCSB
384
Days on Assignment
Missoula
1958
McCall
676
Grangeville
409
0
500
1000
1500
6
2000
2500
USDA Forest Service National Smokejumper Report
The extensive skill set and flexible nature of the Smokejumper program allow Smokejumpers to
fill diverse needs throughout land management agencies. Smokejumpers fill roles on National
IMT’s as well as contributing ICT3 management teams to fire management efforts.
Smokejumpers are also contributing to the NIMO teams in non-traditional areas such as GETA
(Geospatial Equipment and Technological Applications).
Frequently Utilized Single Resource Qualifications by Base
GAC
3
4
1
8
12
ICT3
DIVS
ATGS
TFLD
ICT4
MSO
12
17
1
34
44
MYL
14
21
4
32
46
NCSB
4
10
4
13
19
RAC
4
11
4
18
28
RDD
4
10
4
12
21
WYS
6
15
0
18
21
FUELS TREATMENT
West
241
Redmond
283
Redding
108
NCSB
472
Days on fuels project
Missoula
1480
McCall
665
Grangeville
117
0
500
1000
1500
2000
Smokejumpers make a significant contribution to the resource management objectives of various
agencies nationwide by meeting fuels treatment objectives. For example, Smokejumpers worked
in Region 8 throughout the spring, winter, and fall assisting with fire suppression, prescribed fire,
and project work related activities. In addition, all bases have working relationships with local
and regional units with regard to fuels and project work.
Smokejumpers also participate in mechanical fuels treatment, pre-commercial thinning contract
implementation, and burn plan writing. Fuels work makes up a significant portion of days in the
field for the program.
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USDA Forest Service National Smokejumper Report
USFS RAM Air Program
A five-week RAM Air Transition Training (RATT) was hosted in Missoula starting in April and
concluding in May. The training was led by Joe Rock and Russ Frei, and included Court
Wallace, JT Gilman, Darby Thomson, Drew Pattison, Nick Stanzak, Robert Smith, Amanda
Holt, Jason Junes, and Dan Mooney. The class consisted of 12 students: three from Grangeville,
one from West Yellowstone, and eight from Missoula. The training concluded with all students
graduating and no reportable injuries.
A second four-week RAM Air Transition Training was hosted in Fairbanks, AK in May. The
training was led in cooperation with the BLM and FS trainers. Mark Belitz was a Co-Leader and
was assisted by Drew Pattison. There were 8 students including two from West Yellowstone and
two from Missoula. The training graduated six of eight students. There were no reportable
injuries during the training.
Missoula hosted the first Rookie Smokejumper class to train on the RAM Air System. The
training was led by Jake Besmer, and assisted by Ward Scanson, Audrey Banfill, Travis Parker,
and Ashton Ferruzzi. The class consisted of 14 students (combination of WYS and MSO rookie
candidates). The training was completed in May with 9 Rookie Candidates completing the
training to become Rookie Smokejumpers.
During the 2015 fire season, there were 70 smokejumpers in Region 1 actively jumping the RamAir System. Missoula has 42 active RAM Air jumpers which represents 64% of the base. West
Yellowstone has 21 active Ram Air jumpers which represents 88% of the base. Grangeville has
7 Jumpers on the RAM Air system which represents 25% of the base. The USFS R-1 met all the
Progression Plan Timeline benchmarks for 2015 associated with loft, training, operations, and
field evaluations. Noteworthy also Tom Harbour signed the decision memo to transition all
USFS smokejumpers to the RAM air parachute system.
Region 1 RAM Air Jumps to Date
All Jumps
Fire Jumps
Fire Jumps in Region One
2015
1906
378
243
2014
902
176
129
8
2013
702
233
155
2012
877
365
301
Total
7375
1466
981
USDA Forest Service National Smokejumper Report
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
This page clarifies terms used by the Smokejumper program. Please see the USFS Smokejumpers
National User Guide” for a thorough explanation of terms.
Fire Jump- One Smokejumper deployed via parachute from aircraft for a fire suppression mission.
Jumper Fire- Is a wildfire that is staffed with Smokejumpers via Smokejumper aircraft.
Para-cargo- Supplies delivered to a fire or project by parachute. Every Smokejumper fire receives paracargo consisting of tools, food, and water. Para-cargo is also provided to other fires.
Permanent Base- An established facility staffed year round with Smokejumpers. There are 7 established
Forest Service Smokejumper bases, Grangeville, McCall, Missoula, Redding, Redmond, West
Yellowstone, and North Cascades.
Pounder Fire – Is a fire that is staffed by Smokejumpers via transport other than parachute.
Spike Base- Temporary Smokejumper base placed in an area of high fire activity. Spike bases may be
located at anywhere the following are available: Jet A Fuel, adequate runway for Smokejumper aircraft
take-off and landing. Spike bases are supported and staffed with Smokejumpers and overhead from an
established base or bases.
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