Every year, wildfires destroy millions of hectares of forest land. Homes are damaged, and thousands of people die. Sinokejunipcrs help to stop this.
●What is a smokejumper?
Smokejumpcrs are a special type of firefighter. They jump from planes or are lowered by helicopters into areas that arc difficult to reach by car or on foot, such as the middle of a mountain forest. They race to put out fires as fast as they can.
●What do smokejumpers do?
At a fire site, smokejumpers first examine the land and decide how to fight the fire. Using basic tools, smokejumpers clear land of burnable material, like plants. They carry water with them, too. but only a limited amount.
●Who can be a smokejumpcr?
Although most smokejumpers are men, more women arc joining. Most important are your height and weight. Smokejumpers in the U.S., for example, must be 54 to 91 kilograms so they don't get blown away by the strong winds or get hurt when they land.
Smokejumpers must also be capable of surviving in the wilderness. In Russia, many smokejumpers know how to find food in the forest and even make simple furniture from trees.
The work is dangerous, and the hours are long. But for these firefighters, smokejumping isn't just a job. They love being able to jump out of planes, fight fires, and live in the forest. As 28-year-old Russian smokejumper Alexi Tishin says, "This is the best job for tough guys."
