The daring life of a smokejumper

Training for this elite group of parachuting firefighters is just as grueling as you'd imagine

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A smokejumper leaps from an airplane during a training flight above Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 30, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/Gene Blevins)It takes fuel, oxygen, and heat to start a wildfire. After that, topography — the slope of a mountain, for example — as well as weather and more fuel spread the flames,)

(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder)It's a dirty, grueling, and dangerous job that can require months of travel all over the country. To even be considered, smokejumpers first have to meet strict requiremen)

(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

Jackie Friedman
Jackie Friedman

Jackie Friedman is the assistant photo editor at TheWeek.com. She is a graduate of the photojournalism program at Kent State University and now lives in New York.

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