Smokejumpers: Firefighters from the Sky

Some folks question the sanity of jumping out of a plane for fun, but parachuting into a blazing forest fire? Profiling the men and women who do precisely that for a living, Smokejumpers opens with an historical look at how the forest service was able to establish early on that dropping firefighters close to a fire (instead of them walking in) could make the difference between a controllable situation and a raging inferno (in 1939 Francis Lufkin became the first smokejumper when he descended on a forest fire after only an hour of in-flight training). Interestingly, during the World War II era, the smokejumper corps became a destination for conscientious objectors who wanted to prove their bravery and patriotism without engaging in mortal combat. The program also examines the technology that supports the profession, from the early days of leather football helmets, shovels and dungarees to modern equipment packs, high-tech fabrics, and portable fire shelters; interviews smokejumpers, some of whom started jumping as a summer job, but have turned it into a seasonal career, attracted by the thrill of the work and the brotherhood-like camaraderie (even women members of the team are considered "bros"); and looks at how tragic disasters (such as the 1949 Man's Gulch, Montana fire, killing 13 firefighters) effected changes in procedures and equipment. Highly recommended. Aud: H, P. (C. Block)