Standing on the edge of an open aircraft hatch, a smokejumper in a pale yellow suit steadies himself before rocking back then swinging out the door and vanishing as gravity takes over.

B次元官网网址淛umperB次元官网网址檚 away,B次元官网网址� someone inside the plane yells as the video pans outside the window, where smoke billows toward the sky from a wildfire below.

The footage is from last year at the start of what would soon become the busiest smokejumping season in the 25-year history of the program.

Smokejumpers, also known as parattack crews, are wildland firefighters who are trained to parachute from fixed-wing aircraft, called B次元官网网址渏umpships.B次元官网网址�

The job is thrilling, and like all firefighting comes with an element of danger, said veteran B.C. smokejumper Tom Reinboldt.

But with rigorous training, he said, the goal is to B次元官网网址渢ake what seems ultra-extreme and make it seem mundane.B次元官网网址�

Once on the ground, the firefighters might battle a blaze using water from a natural source, or perform other firefighting tasks like tree felling or conducting controlled burns.

The BC Wildfire Service said there were B次元官网网址�165 operational fire jumps in 2023, more than doubling the previous record of 82.B次元官网网址�

Reinboldt said this season is a B次元官网网址渃ontinuation of last year.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not quite as busy as last season, but a lot of those fires burned over the winter,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that while there havenB次元官网网址檛 been nearly as many B次元官网网址渋nitial attack startsB次元官网网址� as there were in 2023, crews have been seeing the same types of fire behaviour.

The BC Wildfire Service said on Wednesday that they have been rapidly deployed this week to cover a surge of newly discovered fires.

There are only two parattack bases in Canada and both are in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Prince George Fire Centre, one in Mackenzie and the other in Fort St. John, employing 60 smokejumpers.

Greg Jones has been jumping for 11 years and now holds the title of wildfire technician spotter with the Omineca Smokejumpers.

B次元官网网址淧retty well every crew has been busy already this year,B次元官网网址� said Jones, based out of Mackenzie. B次元官网网址淣ot flat out like last season (was) yet, but itB次元官网网址檚 been steady.B次元官网网址�

The secret to their usefulness, Jones said, is the specialized aircraft that allow jumpers to be anywhere in the province in less than two hours.

B次元官网网址淎irplanes give us some flexibility,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he trade off there is, of course, you canB次元官网网址檛 land airplanes in the wilderness so thatB次元官网网址檚 where the parachuting comes in.B次元官网网址�

As a command spotter, a main role of JonesB次元官网网址� job is to assess wind conditions before deploying jumpers.

Wind drift indicators, or B次元官网网址渟treamers,B次元官网网址� are tossed out of the plane by spotters. The seven-metre lengths of red and yellow crepe paper flowing in the wind allow the spotter to determine how to safety deploy jumpers.

Once a location is determined, jumpers in protective Kevlar jumpsuits and caged helmets are sent out one or two at a time. The plane will circle until the jumpers are safely on the ground before more crew members are deployed.

Supplies including camping gear and food and drinking water for 48 hours are also dropped by parachute.

Jones said the firefight begins once crews are on the ground, and while their plan varies depending on the fire, they work B次元官网网址渓ike every other wildfire crew.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址�(ItB次元官网网址檚) some combination of either suppressing the fire directly with water and co-ordinating aerial resources using pump hose, or removing fuel from the fires path whether through ignitions or heavy equipment,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淐rews are self-sufficient out in the field or on incident for 48 hours, and then following that, they can be resupplied as needed, whatever makes most sense,B次元官网网址� he added.

Jones said it is predetermined how the firefighters will get themselves out of a site. Sometimes, he said, they walk out. Other times, they have to clear enough space to allow a helicopter to collect them. He said heB次元官网网址檚 even been extracted via boat before.

Reinboldt, who has been jumping for nearly four decades and is now based in Fort St. John, was instrumental in the implementation of parattack crews in B.C.

The program has tripled in size since it began in 1998.

B次元官网网址淲hen we first started, we would get (between) 10 and 15 missions a year. Now an average year is probably about 50, a really busy year is 80, and last year was (about) 170.B次元官网网址�

Reinboldt held senior management positions for most of his career, but said he made sure to jump at least once a year.

B次元官网网址淚 used to take my vacation to jump, so I enjoy it,B次元官网网址� he said.

After officially retiring last December, Reinboldt said he lasted about four months.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very in-the-moment job, which is what I think a lot of people seek it out,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 not a lot of time to think about bills you have to pay or little issues that are bothering you. You have to be very focused on what youB次元官网网址檙e doing when youB次元官网网址檙e jumping out of an aircraft into a forested area that has a wildfire.B次元官网网址�

Reinboldt said the thrill and camaraderie with other crew members has kept him coming back for more than 36 years.

B次元官网网址淎fter youB次元官网网址檝e done it enough, itB次元官网网址檚 no longer a fear thing (and) itB次元官网网址檚 more of a performance anxiety, combined with that B次元官网网址榠n-the-momentB次元官网网址� part that you like, but really, itB次元官网网址檚 being on the firelines with the crews,B次元官网网址� he said.

All firefighting is dangerous, so training is essential, he said, noting itB次元官网网址檚 no different than any other firefighting unit.

Both Jones and Reinboldt say thereB次元官网网址檚 a misconception that the crews are only used to access remote areas.

B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 part of what it does, but the main reason we do it is speed, range and payload,B次元官网网址� Reinboldt said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a very quick way to get personnel and equipment to a fire and the parachutes. ItB次元官网网址檚 just a solution to a problem.B次元官网网址�

Though B.C. is now the only province that employs smokejumpers, their history elsewhere in Canada dates back to the mid-20th century.

Reinboldt said Saskatchewan, the Northwest Territories and Yukon B次元官网网址� where he began his smokejumping career B次元官网网址� all had programs that have since folded.

He said the program in B.C. has exceeded his expectations, but still has room to grow.

B次元官网网址淭he ability to have medical response,B次元官网网址� he said when asked what he hopes for the programB次元官网网址檚 future.

For now, they are focused on the numerous fires burning across B.C.

Reinboldt said heB次元官网网址檚 excited to get back jumping and smiled at he reflected on a conversation with a friend about the job.

B次元官网网址淎nd every once in a while, whether itB次元官网网址檚 a sunset or whatever, thereB次元官网网址檒l be a perfect moment. He said smoke jumping has an above average number of perfect moments.B次元官网网址�

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press