History
Smokejumping was first
proposed in 1934 by T.V. Pearson, Region 4's Regional Forester, as a means
to quickly provide initial attack on forest fires. By parachuting self-sufficient
firefighters to the fire, they could arrive fresh and ready for the strenuous
work of fighting fires in rugged terrain. The Smokejumper program began
in 1939 as an experiment in Region 6, and the first fire jump was made in
1940 on the Nez Perce NF in Region 1. The McCall Smokejumper program, which
was established in 1943, continues to provide outstanding contributions
to fire management efforts throughout the nation.
Today, the McCall Smokejumper Unit is an interagency resource providing highly trained, experienced firefighters and leadership for quick, wide-ranging, self-sufficient initial attack, extended attack, Incident Command System (ICS) fire teams, and prescribed fire operations throughout the country. Three Twin Otters comprise the fixed-wing aircraft fleet which enables this unit to provide firefighters, paracargo, and supplies to literally anywhere in the country.