The daring life of a smokejumper

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

Jackie Friedman's avatar
By
Published
A smokejumper leaps from an airplane during a training flight above Winthrop, Washington, U.S., June 30, 2016.
The so-called Sand Fire in the Angeles National Forest burns near Los Angeles on July 24, 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,)

A smokejumper leaps from an airplane during a training flight above Winthrop, Washington, on June 30, 2016.
(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)

Ready-to-use parachutes are placed on the parachute loft on June 6, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

Smokejumper recruits exercise on June 6, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

Smokejumper recruit Jeff Rasmussen does squats with a large rock, punishment for dropping his helmet from atop the practice tower, during training on June 6, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

A smokejumper recruit trains by jumping from a large tower while attached to a zip line on June 6, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

Smokejumper recruits clean their sweat-soaked equipment after training in extreme heat on June 7, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

Smokejumper recruits train on June 7, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

Rookie smokejumper Brian Anderson (right) prepares to jump from an airplane with fellow smokejumpers on June 30, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

Assistant spotter Scott McClanahan (left) and spotter Daren Belsby (right) size up the landing area for smokejumpers preparing to complete a practice jump on June 30, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

Smokejumpers after leaping from an airplane during a training exercise on June 6, 2016.
(Image credit: (REUTERS/David Ryder))

A smokejumper recruit lands after leaping from an airplane during a training exercise in a field on June 7, 2016.
(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.