Missoula Smokejumper Visitor Center

07/31/2022

Visit USAjobs.gov to apply

Hope everyone is getting those apps in, GS5 & 6 temp announcements for fire hire phase 2 are open for 3 more days. Go to USAjobs.gov and search “smokejumper” to find regional announcements.

Rookie Announcement numbers are below:

R1 Bases: Missoula, Grangeville, and West Yellowstone, Announcement Number is 23-TEMPF2-R1-0829-5DH

R6 Bases: Redmond and North Cascades, Announcement Number is 23-TEMPF2-R6-0829-5DH

R5 Base: Redding, Announcement Number is 23-TEMPF2-R5-0829-5DH

R4 Base: McCall, will hire from Phase 3 only, application window will be sometime between the dates of 9/2-10/6

Above photo shows a jumper on final in AK above some Black Spruce and Aspen.
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06/30/2022

AK is going off! 150 jumpers in the state, almost all out in the field.

“Jumped a cool tundra beat fire on Nelson Island. The view of the pacific wasn’t terrible. ;)”

Jumpspot 📸: .c.rowland

06/29/2022

Get those apps ready… most smokejumper bases (FS)will be hiring off phase 2 and phase 3 certs of fire hire this summer and fall.

What does this mean for you? Well if you want to make the first available cert bases will be looking at (Phase 2).

•Get your app dialed in now, and be ready, don’t wait till the last minute!

•Applications for phase two will only be accepted from 7/27-8/3 on USAjobs.

•We know this timeframe is not ideal for us as firefighters, but if you want it, make it happen!

• Some bases will be hiring off Phase 3, and some only Phase 3, which is in October.

•Get in touch with the bases you are interested in if you are unsure on their specific timeframes.

Good luck on those apps for next season, we are all hoping that this system will be changed for the coming years…stay tuned for information on BLM hiring timeframes.

05/28/2022

Recent post from
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“Alaska: Smokejumpers from Fairbanks jumped a fire in Bristol Bay started by a burn barrel at a Government camp site. The island is a Walrus sanctuary. The fire was stopped at 40 acres.”

Check out for fire updates, wildland memes, and articles on substack.

05/27/2022

A recent post from
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“Yes, we know we're a little behind as of late. But we've been trying to take care of our own Mental Health, since we are all volunteering our time and almost all of us are balancing work as full time Wildland firefighters. So please forgive our delays and lack of updates.

Follow the link in our profile to access a copy of the mental health awareness month news release (with links) , as well as other resources that you can use including how to get in touch with your Congressional Representatives!”

Make sure to visit to find out more information and a link in their bio.

05/26/2022

Spring jumping in Montana

05/25/2022

Training is still ongoing as many bases are in the midst of refresher and rookie trainings. Congrats to the rookies on finishing a tough training!
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“Congratulations to the Redding Rookie Class of 2022 for successfully completing a very arduous training program. Great job to the trainers that helped them succeed.”
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05/24/2022

It’s training season, and this past week saw a few bigger injuries than normal. Marty was hurt on the final training jump of rookie training last week. When his canopy made contact with a tree prior to landing, it ceased flight and he fell to the ground.

Marty has had surgery and will be out of action for awhile. He is a seven year veteran of the Forest Service, and was on a detail from the to the for this fire season. Let’s show our support to Marty through the go fund me.com site set up for him and his wife.

As most of you know, a summer without overtime can make it hard to pay the bills. Follow the link in our bio to support another member of our fire family.

12/16/2021

Halfway through Bro Boogie 5 down in Arizona. If any fire fam are in the neighborhood, stop by for discounted firefighter lift tickets.

Todays activities included an 8000’ balloon jump and multiple fun jumps. Hope to see you out here!

11/15/2021

Who else packs 35mm film out to fires? This 35mm shot comes from . One of several he just posted. Thanks Spencer!
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11/15/2021

Here’s another opportunity to work as a smokejumper next season. If you already have a permanent position and you want to get the smokejumper experience this could be for you. Many smokejumpers including myself got their starts on details. It’s a great way to get some cross training in those fire skills and bring them back to the district. If interested in this Redding detail, give Schuette a call.

11/14/2021

Last practice jump of the year for some of our McCall bros. This one was captured by one of our amazing fire lookouts, . Good demonstration of the slow steep approach to dial in that sight picture.
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11/13/2021

What are you doing next month? If you are a skydiver and want some Arizona sun, come join us December 11-19 at in Eloy.
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This is year 5 for the Bro Boogie down in AZ. It’s really just an excuse to get the fire family together to camp out and have some fun in the desert.
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Come join us in December. DM me if you want more details or to let me know you are coming.

11/10/2021

Hey fire fam, it’s been awhile. Hope to see more of you soon.
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Sounds like Redding and NCSB have already started making rookie candidate selections. The announcement for Region 1 is out right now. If you are interested in working in Grangeville, Missoula, or West Yellowstone next year go to USAjobs.gov and look for (22-TEMPF3-R1-0829-5DH). It’s only open from 11/5 to 11/12/21. If you know anyone interested, share this and encourage them to apply!
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This was taken on the Salmon River Breaks this July with the Hoover Ridge fire behind us and one of the other two that started that day making a move down the River. All three would eventually become the Snake River Complex.

08/25/2020

Redmond smokejumpers dropping heavy cargo. Smokejumpers in the lower 48 have been more involved in logistics plans this season as fire managers try to mitigate Covid exposure by ordering supplies delivered from the air. 📸:

08/24/2020

Here’s another photo of a jumper swatting out grass fire , this time with a Juniper branch. This one comes from the Laurel fire which the smokejumpers helped catch at 100 acres. 📸:

08/20/2020

Jump 62 waiting for the fire call. 📸:

08/20/2020

The Boise smokejumpers are hanging out in Redding with the Bighorn Airways to help support Northern California fires. The first photo is the overflow ready room in the Northern California Fire Cache where jumpers can stage gear. The second, the Dornier 228 looks small compared to the which can carry about twice the payload and jumpers. 📸: @ Redding, California

08/18/2020

Packout time! After a recent fire in the Frank Church Wilderness, these two jumpers from the base in McCall, Idaho, packed out 10 miles for a pick up at the remote airstrip in Chamberlain Basin. Sometimes we get helicopter support, other times it’s up to the jumpers to hike out everything that came out of the plane, usually 120-140lbs of gear per jumper. 📸:

08/18/2020

Another amazing shot from the doing some desert jumping. 📸:

08/18/2020

Recent jump by the down South. Great video of a cargo run by the . After the jumpers make it to the ground they get tools, food, water, and sleeping bags delivered by the same plane they jumped from.
🎥: .j.bacon

08/18/2020

Early morning cowboy coffee before heading onto the fire.
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08/17/2020

Today is National Airborne Day!

“The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion was nicknamed “Triple Nickles” because of its numerical designation and because 17 of its original 24 “colored test platoon” were from the 92nd Infantry (“Buffalo Soldiers”) Division of the U.S. Army.
During the winter of 1943-1944, the first black paratroopers in army history began training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After several months, the segregated unit was moved to Camp Mackall, North Carolina, where it was reorganized and redesignated as Company A of the newly activated 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion. Unlike other African American infantry units officered by whites, the 555th was entirely black since six black officers also completed jump training.
By late 1944, the first platoon of Triple Nickles was fully trained, combat-ready, and alerted for European duty. The men were anxious to fight Hitler’s N***s in Europe or the Japanese in the Pacific. Instead, changing war conditions kept the paratroopers home and away from the war they had been trained to fight.
On May 5, 1945, a Japanese incendiary balloon had been launched by the Japanese toward American shores, intended to start major forest fires and create just such fears.
In early 1945, the Triple Nickles had received secret orders from the War Department called “Operation Firefly.” They were sent to Pendleton, Oregon, assigned to the 9th Services Command, and trained by the Forest Service to become history’s first military smokejumpers. They were specifically designated to respond to Japanese balloon bombs.
During that year’s fire season, the Triple Nickles made more than 1,200 individual jumps and helped control at least 28 major fires although none were believed to have been caused by the Japanese.
In December 1947, the Triple Nickles were deactivated and their personnel were assigned to other Army units.”
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Write up and 📸’s from:

08/16/2020

Awesome smokejumper art by

08/16/2020

Redding smokejumpers after a fire in the Carson Iceberg Wilderness. 📸:

08/14/2020

“Hey everybody, this is my friend coworker and teammate Luke Barrett. See the link posted in my bio, but let's get a fire (and everyone else) family rally going and help out one of our own. For those of you that know him, you know how out going and positive he is. You also may know a little of his back story and his years long fight with Crohn's disease. Fire season is picking up, let's help keep him on his feet and get back on the line with us.
Thanks all!”
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Words and photo posted by
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All who know Luke can second his hard work and positivity, we also have a link in our bio. Head over to the Go Fund Me site to give a little help to our fire brother and read a little more about Luke. Thanks