Grangeville Smokejumpers
Jumping fires in the Inland Northwest is not a recent endeavor. Rufus Robinson and Earl Cooley made the first parachute jump to a fire in July of 1940 on the Nez Perce National Forest. This marked the true beginning of the Smokejumper Program. At the time the two were stationed at the Moose Creek Airstrip in Idaho.
The Grangeville Smokejumpers established their base of operations at the Idaho County Airport in 1951 at what is referred to as “The Grangeville Air Center (GAC).” GAC houses offices, a manufacturing area, parachute loft, tower, paracargo area, and ready room. Adjoining buildings include the home of the Clearwater/Nez Perce Helitack Crew, a saw cache, and work out facilities.
GAC Jumpers, when at home, normally cover initial attack duties in Idaho north of the Salmon River, parts of Eastern Oregon and Washington, with the occasional fires in Montana and elsewhere. However, in a busy season, GAC Jumpers will normally boost other bases and jump fires throughout the Western U.S. and Alaska.
Smokejumper Aircraft
The DeHaviland DHC-6 Twin Otter is the type of aircraft housed at GAC (Jump 14). This versatile twin engine airplane is ideal for back-country airstrips due to its Short take-off and landing (STOL) capabilities. It normally carries 8 Jumpers and their gear plus 2 Spotters and its Pilot. Twin Otters are used extensively at many smokejumper bases and truly are one of the aviation work horses for the Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management.
The Douglas DC-3TP is an updated version of a type of aircraft that has been around since pre-WWII. The DC-3TP in Region 1 was totally overhauled and equipped with its turbo-prop engines in 1991. The “Doug” as it is known, holds 10 to 12 Jumpers and their gear plus Spotters and two Pilots.
Smokejumpers teach local Grangeville students about parachutes safety:
