Back Row (L-R): Ryen Farnworth (pilot), Eric Shilling (pilot), Tony Sleznick (pilot), Josh Cantrell, Jeff Coburn, Sean Wishart, Kevin McCarthy, Jonathan Ugulano, Ryan McCliment, Justin Cook, Jeremy Zemke, Ben Elkind, Eliah Pedersen, Shane Orser, Jeanine Faulkner, Jeremy Jensen, Ben Bell, Ted Piehl, Grant Davis, Joe Madden, Matt Britt, Bill Selby, Jarret Carle. https://filson-life.imgix.net/2019/07/DSC2996-1.jpg?fit=scale&fm=pjpg&h=200&ixlib=php-1.2.1&w=300&wpsize=medium Thats Jarret Carle. During surgery at the hospital they found six fractures and placed three plates and 10 screws to repair . Watch Now. thats the plan," he said. KTVZ NewsChannel 21 is committed to providing a forum for civil and constructive conversation. The RAC is hosted by the Deschutes National Forest and is about 30 minutes driving time from the Central Oregon communities of Bend, Sisters, and Prineville. Copyright, Browse Colleges, Departments, and Programs. Then you start the descent. This page is dedicated to raise awareness of smokejumpers who are injured in the line duty and to provide support to. The "birthplace" of smokejumping continues to be debated between these two bases, the argument having persisted for about 70 years. Ben Elkind sustained a dislocated hip and pelvic fracture during a hard landing. [citation needed]. The North Peace Smokejumpers in Fort Saint John, British Columbia. The United States has about 450 jumpers at nine smokejumper bases across the western U.S. (Conversely, Russia uses about 4,000 jumpers.) Archives The Interagency Hotshots, the Redmond Smokejumpers, and the Pacific Northwest Training Center call RAC home. A dark speck fell out of the plane as it swooped 1500 feet over Glaze Meadow, near Black Butte. NSA Online Store. Filson Deanne Shulman, based in McCall, Idaho, became the first female smokejumper in . Were all hurting but I know he needs help. Boise, ID and Fairbanks, AK are the two BLM jump bases. "We catch a lot of fires that nobody has any clue even happened," said Hinnenkamp. Fitness is very important for these folks. The solution is not just to donate. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new articles by email. Smokejumper Ben Bell grabs the leg pockets of his jump suit while making a 2012 practice jump from the training tower at the Redmond Air Center. EWU Libraries (TRAMPS) NSA Trails Restoration & Maintenance Project Specialists. It had also delivered more than 500,000 . This collection of interviews details the experiences of smokejumpers at the Redmond Air Center in Redmond, Oregon and at the jumper base in Fairbanks, Alaska. > [5], The examples and perspective in this article, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "History of Smokejumping | US Forest Service", "These are the airborne firefighters that handle the most intense wildfires", BBC Radio 4 - Book of the Week, Fire Season, Episode 1, US Forest Service - National Interagency Smokejumper Training Guide, CPS Unit Number 103-01, World War II Smokejumpers, Smokejumpers and Smokejumping: Information and Photos, Spotfire Images: Quality Smokejumper and Fire Photos, US Forest Service list of smokejumper bases, Nick Sundt Smokejumpers Oral History Project, Civilian Public Service Smokejumpers Oral History Project, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Smokejumper&oldid=1106760306. Photo by Bill Gabbert. Driving from Bend to the smokejumper base in Redmond, Oregon, was like traveling back in time. We are starting this GoFundMe in order to help Ben and his family through this tough time. I feel really lucky, he said. Click here. No promotional code needed. | Copyright, Browse Colleges, Departments, and Programs. West Yellowstone Smokejumpers WYIFC Box 610 West Yellowstone, MT 59758 (406) 646-7691. For info on print and digital advertising, 1 event, 4 articles. Your financial contribution ensures our work stays free for all. Ben Elkind has done a ton for all of us Federal Wildland Firefighters over the last year. The rest of the . Northwest - the Redmond Smokejumpers in Redmond, Oregon. It gets scary just thinking if I cant go back to my job or if my wife gets laid off from her job, and I cant work because of my hip, it gets scary for me to think about all that. Noah Chast is a multimedia journalist for NewsChannel 21. The USFS' goals include a functional space that is low-maintenance, and designed sustainability to support . This hotshot crew may have been deployed to Alaska. 10 thoughts on "Serious injury sidelines Redmond Smokejumper" Will says: May 19, 2022 at 5:26 pm. Typos, let us know HERE. An initial group of 15 men began training in parachute rigging in May 1943 at Seeley Lake, and a total of 33 completed jump training in the middle of June, followed by two weeks of training in fire ground control and first aid. Smokejumpers are employed by the Russian Federation, United States (namely the United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management), and Canada (in British Columbia).[1]. We stand behind our products 100%. | His death is the first recorded smokejumper fatality during a fire jump. The life of a guide is not a normal life, but what he has learned from fishing has shaped him into the man he has become. If the ground is hot, you turn it over and mix it with cool soil. He rookied as a smokejumper in Redding, CA, in 2014 then transferred to Redmond in 2015 to be closer to home and his family. Severe Weather Picture of a tool drop on a jumper's phone. For further information, contact Eastern Washington University Libraries, Archives & Special Collections at (509) 359-2475. I strongly recommend doing what you can to support him and his family during this difficult time. While training near Black Butte Ranch on Sunday, May 15, he came into his landing zone too fast, and with low winds, he dropped from nearly 20 feet in the air. The 555th was allegedly not sent to combat because of segregation in the military during World War II. The brew house, opened in 1996, won second place for "Best Bar / Brewpub" in the Source Weekly's 2018 Best of Redmond readers' poll and is a favorite among locals and visitors alike. College, Department, or Program Spokesman file photo Buy Now. I'd venture to bet that it's similar to why the US Army (and other branches) use rounds on mass jumps. The base is near six national forests: Nez Perce/Clearwater, Sawtooth, the Boise, Payette, Salmon-Chalis, and Wallowa-Whitman.[2]. | The Alaska Smokejumpers will be celebrating our 50th year on Friday, June 5; and Saturday, June 6, 2009. | A Redmond smokejumper is embarking on a historic trip next month to participate in a commemorative D-Day invasion jump in Normandy, France. He has a long recovery road ahead of him and now is our opportunity to give something back. The last CPS smokejumper left the service in January 1946. They are inserted at the site of the fire by parachute. Smokejumpers from the Redmond Air Center prepare to make their 150th jump in February 1972. The Alaska Smokejumper Base's 10-year average for jumps between April and September is 495. | There are a handful of televisions above the bar and main seating area, making this a good spot to watch the game or grab a drink with a group. The result was a broken pelvis, a dislocated femur and no work for the rest of the season. Central Oregon Daily 2020. You wait. You stay on the base. We use industry standard encryption to keep your personal information secure when placing an order. Have a fire aviation news tip? RELATED: Prescribed burns in national forests paused for 90 days nationwide. In an ironic twist, a GoFundMe page has been set up for Bens family by the Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Organization, an often necessary step taken by many federal firefighters who are injured on the job. Wildfire in Nebraska burns more than 1,000 acres of timber, The four active large fires in New Mexico have burned nearly half a million acres, An invitation to visit Bill Gabberts tribute wall, Bill Gabberts death announced by his family, Share a few hours for cancer awareness (and help fund our professions response), County commissioner in Glenwood Springs wants climate removed from wildfire agreement, Fire leaders promote national fire strategy. The Smokejumper Project had become a permanent establishment of the USFS in 1944. The square doesnt solve all the problems with landing safely in the woods but it does help hitting the spot much more easy. Some skydive on their days off. Crisp, bold red, white and blue SMOKEJUMPERS logo on left chest adorns a 100-percent navy blue cotton t-shirt of a heft strong enough to withstand hundreds of washings, without being too heavy for comfort. EWU Libraries The base became a "satellite" base, while Redmond, Oregon, served as the "core" base with 60 smokejumpers assigned there. Home If theres any heat left, were gonna stand and were gonna take care of it, Carle says. Theres always Spam. Then its crazy, he said. We want to help you find the right job. Very sad to see this, Ben is a textbook example of what sort of change motivated firefighters can make from the ground up. It's a situation he knew was possible, but never thought would be a reality. SMOKEJUMPERS Accessibility Smokejumping was first proposed in 1934 in the Intermountain Region (Region 4), by Regional Forester T.V. In an ironic twist, a GoFundMe page has been set up for Bens family by the Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Organization, an often necessary step taken by many federal firefighters who are injured on the job. SMOKEJUMPER STATUS REPORT ; Attention: This site should not be used for strategic smokejumper allocation decisions (e.g. Front row (L-R): Tom Fitzpatrick, Kelly Esterbrook, Tim Lynch, Harley Jackson, Everett Young, Joe Brennan, Neal Schaeffer, Mike Jackson, Irene Saphra, Cuby Valdez. NSA_CREWPICS During surgery at the hospital they found six fractures and placed three plates and 10 screws to repair the damage. "The jumpers took what they did and adapted it to the helicopter," said Ken Ross, the Helicopter Program Manager for Pacific Northwest Region. | Elkind, a nine-year smokejumper, was transitioning from the low-performance parachute hes familiar with to a new, high-performance chute. Archives Gallatin National Forest Box 130 Bozeman, MT 59771 (406) 587-6716. I know the community will rally and give Ben the support he needs, but there are others out there every year who get missed and who struggle alone. Tanker 44 at Redmond, June 13, 2016. Boise BLM smokejumpers. Thirteen firefighters died during the blowup, 12 of them smokejumpers. Front Row (L-R): (Rookies) Shane Taylor, Melissa Moore, Gabe Dommershausen, Josh Ross, Rubel Aguilar, David Neydlin, Luke Bromley, Douglas Thomas, Sam Johnson, Nick Foey. Wildland firefighter to Wildland firefighter I hope you have a good recovery from a first season Wildland firefighter to a 9 year vet Wildland firefighter. Founded in 1964, Redmond has responded to an average of 86 fires a season for the last decade. . Smokejumpers Exhibit Opening EXPLORE Learn about the evolution and role smokejumping has played in fighting forest fires for the last 70 years. Heres why, Insurance may finally be the turning point in high-risk fire area homes, Rethinking risk and responsibility in the Western wildfire crisis, NEW smokejumpers t-shirt with logo on left chest, (TRAMPS) NSA Trails Restoration & Maintenance Project Specialists, Wildland Firefighters Not Served Well By Albuquerque Service Center, Standing Tall-Making a Difference Merv George, Supervisor Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Contact | You dont put on your Redmond Smokejumper shirt until you jump out of Redmond. When theyre not in the air, smokejumpers manufacture and repair their own gear. The Redmond Smokejumper Base is located at the Redmond Air Center in Redmond, Oregon. Contact He was like, Whoa, thats crazy! And I was like, 'Yeah!' A smokejumper was seriously injured Sunday May 15 during a training parachute jump. NSA Smokejumper Photo & Video Galleries. Photo by Bill Gabbert. (TRAMPS) NSA Trails Restoration & Maintenance Project Specialists. Bend, River West Neighborhood, Thursdays, 9-11 a.m. & 7-9 p.m. Continues through March 9. the Grangeville Smokejumpers in Grangeville, Idaho. What bothers me is that as a first responder in the federal government he is not fully covered for his loss of income doing a needed and dangerous job. Their job is to kill them before they become catastrophes. The rest wield pulaskis an axe on one end of the blade and a hoe on the other. Support Injured Smokejumpers - Redmond Smokejumpers, Redmond, Oregon. Now, Elkind is stuck on crutches for the next 2-3 months, with a long road of recovery ahead of him. Fight. The names of all of the crew members have been added below the portrait. Resources for these fires include engines, water tenders and hand crews, as well as the John Day rappelers and Redmond smokejumpers for additional support in order to provide quick responses and . Thanks to the stylish Smokejumpers logo, this pin looks great on a sport coat, jacket or even a cap. The Hot Shot Burger on the menu hearkens back to the days when the Redmond Hotshots regularly frequented the pub, along with the Redmond Smokejumpers and other Forest Service employees. It is time to either sideline the square or shut down the SMJ program. Photo by Bill Gabbert. Saws for wilderness areas. The smokejumper fell for less than a second before her parachute Then you return to base where your names at the bottom of the jump list. The top 10 names on the jump list get in the plane when the alarm goes off. Redmonds jumpers come from all over the country and as many disciplines. Oh, yeah! A smoke jumper is loaded down with gear, helment, axes, o2, etc..the jump is the least of their worries. Accessibility The names of all the crew members have been added below the portrait. If you are using a screen-reader and are having problems using this website, please call 1-800-624-0201 or email us for assistance. We put them out. Thats a stupid statement. They watch their name climb the jump list. On his first jump, Carle had to climb 100 feet up a tree to get five gallons of drinking water. Jump. > KTVZ-TV FCC Public File | FCC Applications |, Breaking News Donated and shared. Eastern Washington University has not been able to identify the copyright holder and considers this an orphan work. Learn more about Noah here. Elkind said that almost 50 of his fellow smokejumpers have a meal train going for his family and many have volunteered to drive him to doctors appointments. Ravioli. There are a handful of televisions above the bar and main seating area, making this a good spot to watch the game or grab a drink with a group. Im sorry to hear this and wish Ben a full and complete recovery. Six foot five. Inside, the bar is filled with sports memorabilia and some interesting items donated by pub regulars over the years. Author Norman MacLean described the incident in his book Young Men and Fire (1992). They are inserted at the site of the fire by parachute. The USFS has seven jump bases (Winthrop, WA; Redmond, OR; Redding, CA; McCall, ID; Grangeville, ID; Missoula, MT; and West Yellowstone, MT). He rookied as a smokejumper in Redding, CA, in 2014 then transferred to Redmond in 2015 to be closer to home and his family. Squad-sized and larger crews were supervised by foremen who were career wildland firefighters and experts in all types of wildfires. It operated from 1943 to 1981 as a smokejumper base, during which time the smokejumpers parachuted on 1445 fires for 5390 fire jumps, or about 142 jumps per year. The rookies cook if theyre any good at it. Your name climbs the jump list. Ive met with some legislative staff and I think theyre all pretty concerned about this stuff, he said. Otherwise, you dig. Archives and Special Collections, Eastern Washington University Libraries. Ben Elkind sustained a dislocated hip and pelvic fracture during a hard landing. Other fire-related operations at the Redmond Airport include the Redmond Smokejumpers, the Northwest Fire Training Center, the Redmond Hotshots, and the Regional Air Group which supplies pilots for the jumpers and lead planes. Smokejumpers are specially trained wildland firefighters who provide an initial attack response on remote wildland fires. And then I ran into where I was running out of space, so then I basically just hit the full brakes on my parachute and the canopy collapsed. NewsChannel 21 asked Elkind if he'll try to jump again next year. Please consider donating to Ben and his family. 166. Smokejumpers are featured in the 1985 novel, Alaska smokejumpers were featured in the 2015, In the 2021 American action thriller film, This page was last edited on 26 August 2022, at 08:50. Go to Store. I jumped both the round and square for years. REDMOND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Fifteen-year U.S. Forest Service wildland firefighter Ben Elkind is at his home in Redmond, recovering from a parachute training accident. 20-ounce beers are a mere $5 and their Eat 4 Cheap! In 1946, the Missoula Region had 164 smokejumpers, many of them recent military veterans, college students, or recent college graduates. I mean. 95% of the guys I know that switched from rounds to squares are happy they did so. Per-mission to reproduce Smokejumper in any man- A smokejumper was seriously injured Sunday May 15 during a training parachute jump. In the air, you circle the fire and size it up. Users are responsible for assessing and/or securing use permissions. 502 likes. Ben is an outstanding human, firefighter, and firefighter advocate. Keep it from spreading. Great Basin the McCall Smokejumpers in McCall, Idaho. Here is an excerpt from their description on GoFundMe: Ben has a long road to recovery and will be unable to work for a significant length of time and will be missing out on the overtime that so many wildland firefighters depend on to make a living. If youre at the top of the list, youre the one in charge. Stationed at Pendleton Field, Oregon, with a detachment in Chico, California, 300 unit members participated in firefighting missions throughout the Pacific Northwest during the summer and fall of 1945, earning the nickname "Smoke Jumpers". Before you can even get into the plane, you go through weeks of training and physical fitness tests. Shortly after smokejumpers touch ground, they are supplied by parachute with food, water, and firefighting tools, making them self-sufficient for 48 hours. By It began when one Redmond smokejumper, Dan Norskog, heard about local medical provider, St. Charles Health System, making a call out to the community to provide 10,000 masks for employees. Deschutes National Forest Public Affairs Officer Jean Nelson-Dean confirmed that "one of our smokejumpers experienced a hard landing on a proficiency jump" and had been hospitalized with non-life . Good coffee. It doesnt matter if the jumper behind you has been jumping for 20 years and youve been in the air for two. The 555th made a total of 1,200 jumps to 36 fires, 19 from Pendleton and 17 from Chico. SMOKEJUMPERS They might be living in their truck and if they get an injury like mine, then what? 56, JULY 2007 ISSN 1532-6160 Smokejumper is published quarterly by: THE NATIONAL SMOKEJUMPER ASSOCIATION C/O 10 JUDY LANE CHICO, CA 95926 The opinions of the writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the NSA. The four largest active wildfires in New Mexico all continued to grow Thursday and have burned a total of more than 476,000 acres. From 8/24, 0800 to 8/25, 0800: 9,423 strikes in OR and 56 strikes in WA occurred and triggered the High Cascades Complex and Hancock Complex fires. All Rights Reserved. a GoFundMe page has been set up for Ben's family by the Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Organization, an often necessary step taken by many federal firefighters who are injured . Meeting minutes from the Sept 2008 Board of Directors meeting in Redmond have been posted. Ben Elkind sustained a dislocated hip and pelvic fracture during a hard landing. In addition to performing the initial attack on wildfires, they may also provide leadership for extended attacks on wildland fires. Before you leave, you get down on your hands and knees and touch every inch of ground looking for hot spots. They exercise. Combat jump board (fire jumps). Although this first experiment was not pursued, another began in 1939 in Washington's Methow Valley, where professional parachutists jumped into a variety of timbered and mountainous terrains, proving the feasibility of the idea. > I think bravery is running into a house to save a child, you know? Until 33 years ago, smokejumpers were all men. Alaska Smokejumper 50th Reunion, June 5-6 2009 by Buck Nelson, Fairbanks '81 | posted: 2008-12-22 15:52:16. Smokejumping -- United States, Smokejumpers -- United States -- Redmond (Or. Putting all jumpers on squares is going to result in more accidents, and moresevere injuries. The digital images were donated to Eastern Washington University Libraries by the National Smokejumper Association. Grant was injured on a fire near the village of Allakaket on July 11, 2022. But a GoFundMe set up by the Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Organization had already raised nearly $40,000 as of Monday, more than Elkind would have made during the fire season. Their job is to kill them before they become catastrophes. And this is what we want to do.. He and other smokejumpers rely on overtime to fill the gaps during the summer. Send friends to pick up your family at the airport. NSA Trails Restoration & Maintenance Project Specialists, Wildfires climbing snowiest mountains in the American West. The interviewees discuss their smokejumping training, memorable jumps, and colleagues. Most smokejumpers of the era were not career professionals, but seasonal employees lured by the prospect of earning as much as $1,000 over a summer. Really sad to hear of Bens injury. Six fractures, three plates and 10 screws later, Elkind is looking at a 6-12 month recovery before he can get back to fighting fires and providing for his family. In May 1945, the unit was sent to the West Coast of the United States to combat forest fires ignited by Japanese incendiary balloons, an operation named "Operation Firefly". A place where the weather does what it wants. BLM has been safely jumping squares since the late 70s. The Omenica Smokejumpers in Mackenzie, British Columbia. Become a Source Insider to help get news and culture to Central Oregon. Plus whatever you managed to pull out of the freezer and tuck into your pants pockets in the 300 seconds you had to get into the plane. But if teaching one of her own brothers isn't challenging And, please keep in mind our commenting ground rules before you post a comment. A firefighter takes a breather . The Hot Shot Burger on the menu hearkens back to the days when the Redmond Hotshots regularly frequented the pub, along with the Redmond Smokejumpers and other Forest Service employees. Ben and his wife Amber have two boys, ages 4 and 1. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., High Desert Museum, 59800 . Best wishes to him and his family for a successful recovery. The first fire jumps were made by Rufus Robinson and Earl Cooley at Rock Pillar near Marten Creek in the Nez Perce National Forest on July 12, 1940, out of Ninemile, followed shortly by a two-man fire jump out of Winthrop. A group portrait of the Smokejumper crew for the Redmond Smokejumper Base. Photo by Bill Gabbert. Seven are operated by the United States Forest Service (USFS), and two are operated by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). From collectibles to car accessories to our outstanding selection of smokejumper apparel, you too can . You cut the fire off from fuel. A group portrait of the Smokejumper crew for the Redmond Smokejumper Base. October 24, 2007. Crisp, bold red, white and blue SMOKEJUMPERS logo on left chest adorns a 100-percent navy blue cotton t-shirt of a heft strong enough to withstand hundreds of washings, without being too heavy for comfort. Although in years past, the army had conducted basic airborne training at various locations, it has since been consolidated at Fort Benning, Georgia. Deschutes National Forest Public Affairs Officer Jean Nelson-Dean confirmed that "one of our smokejumpers experienced a hard landing on a proficiency jump" and had been hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.". Fantastic beard. Shane Orser, 41, will join more than 200 other . Prior to the full establishment of smokejumping, experiments with parachute insertion of firefighters were conducted in 1934 in Utah and in the Soviet Union. As of July 20, the base had notched 829 jumps during 123 jump missions. Back Row (L-R): Justin Cook, Jeremy Zemke, Matt Abell, Marcel Potvin, Ben Bell, Jarret Carle, Bill Selby, Gary Atteberry, Mike Leslie, Sean Wishart, Eliah Pedersen, Jeanine Faulkner, Kevin McCarthy, Jonathan Ugulano, Connor Allen, Arthur Cherry . Photo via Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Organization. A smokejumper was seriously injured Sunday May 15 during a training parachute jump. > Back Row (L-R): Ryen Farnworth (pilot), Eric Shilling (pilot), Tony Sleznick (pilot), Josh Cantrell, Jeff Coburn, Sean Wishart, Kevin McCarthy, Jonathan Ugulano, Ryan McCliment, Justin Cook, Jeremy Zemke, Ben Elkind, Eliah Pedersen, Shane Orser . Two parachutes. . Tanker 163 at Redmond, June 13, 2016. Once its cool, you pack up and hike somewhere that a truck can pick you up hopefully not more than five or 10 miles. > They also talked with Marty Walsh, the Secretary of Labor, who oversees the Office of Workers Compensation Programs (OWCP), an agency that has been criticized for slow-walking or failing to appropriately process the claims and pay the medical bills of firefighters injured on the job. Northern Rockies the Missoula Smokejumpers in Missoula, Montana. Daily News Updates Hang in there dude! All day long, youre this coiled spring thats waiting for that [alarm] just to sound off.. Redmond smokejumper Ben Elkind learned the pain of a hard landing and the financial fallout all at once last Sunday. | the North Cascades Smokejumpers in Winthrop, Washington. The closest smokejumper in picture 7 is swinging a pulaski. [3] The fires usually contained within a day and out within two or three. My Account 93. Starting at the heel of the fire, you separate black from green. Here, when not fighting fires, the men spent much time putting up hay to feed the hundreds of pack mules that carried supplies and equipment to guard stations and fire locations. It was a small jump spot and there was no wind so I just kept cruising through the jump spot, Elkind told Central Oregon Daily News on Monday. Nationwide, about 10 percent of smokejumpers are female, Taylor said. He's excited to spend this extra time with his family, but certainly has a return to the skies in sight. Its a loss of crucial hours and income on a job that already makes it hard to make ends meet. Middle row (L-R): Bill Bickers, Dewey Warner, Karl Petty, Ted Wise, Ed Wheeler, Scott . He rookied in Redding, CA, in 2014 then transferred to Redmond in 2015 to be closer to home and his family. Users are responsible for assessing and/or securing use permissions. For nearly 80 years the Forest Service has deployed smokejumpers to parts of the 193 million acres under its charge that are hard to reach by trails and roads. A Dream Comes to Fruition with Viaggio Wine Merchant, @ Rappellers today can repel 250 feet from light or medium helicopters and land precisely between tall trees. "I think thats good motivation., Nelson-Dean told NewsChannel 21 Monday, on behalf of the Forest Service: "We are all hoping for a speedy recovery for Ben and many people are reaching out to help support him and his family at this time through the GoFundMe page set up by the Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Association.". But if one of them is injured, they not only lose their chance to fight fires for the summer, they also lose their income for that time period. After observing smokejumper training methods at Seeley Lake in June 1940, then-Major William C. Lee of the U.S. Army went on to become a major general and establish the 101st Airborne Division.[3]. You dont take your boots off. You just cant be productive as a human being in those conditions, Carle says. For more information, please contact Eastern Washington University Libraries, Archives & Special Collections at (509) 359-2475. The camp relocated to Camp Menard in July 1943. the North Cascades Smokejumpers in Winthrop, Washington. Alaskas Alagnak River is a place where there are no roads. A group portrait of the Smokejumper crew for the Redmond Smokejumper Base. Please consider donating to help a firefighter and his family while they support each other on the road to recovery. Sources: FAA, [1] airport website [2] Redmond Municipal Airport ( IATA: RDM, ICAO: KRDM, FAA LID: RDM) (Roberts Field) is in Deschutes County, Oregon, United States. The Redmond Air Center (RAC) is at Robert's Field Airport about two miles east of Redmond, Oregon (population 12,000+, elevation 3077 feet). Menu includes lb. People keep asking if Im going to keep jumping, and I sure hope so, but it might be awhile, he said. Smokejumpers are specially trained wildland firefighters who provide an initial attack response on remote wildland fires. The Illinois Valley Airport, also known as the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base, or even the Cave Junction Airport, was built by the US Forest Service. It only took a half an hour, but the trip set Meg Buchanan back ten years. booster orders or relocation of smokejumper aircraft) without first directly contacting the pertinent smokejumper operations manager(s). You jump off of a 30-foot tower, repeatedly, to make sure you wont hesitate when its your turn to jump out the door. Big Reduction in Price for SJ DVD's Smokejumping -- United States, Smokejumpers -- United States -- Redmond (Or. NSA_CREWPICS They train. My Account Carle is a member of the Redmond Smokejumpers in Redmond, Oregon. Now you can display that proud spirit with our fine line of Smokejumper merchandise. We are starting this GoFundMe in order to help Ben and his family through this tough time. When the fires contained, you set up camp. Carle is a member of the Redmond Smokejumpers in Redmond, Oregon. Smokejumpers are one of the first lines of defense against wildfires, known for jumping out of planes into the fire zones. Youre just doing your own thing out there. Redmond Smokejumpers Redmond Air Center 1740 SE Ochoco Way Redmond, OR 97756 (541) 504-7280. 5631). once again, the revenge of the squares. This is just what were trained to do. Home Ben Elkind sustained a dislocated hip and pelvic fracture during a hard landing. Ive crashed really hard on both, been knocked out on both. Thank you, Murry, for your kind and informed response . Elkind, who normally works between 500 and 800 hours of overtime each fire season, is a big advocate of fair pay and benefits for firefighters. > A smokejumper was seriously injured Sunday May 15 during a training parachute jump. > . The life of a guide on this river is one of resourcefulness, persistence, and dedication. Ben is an outstanding human, firefighter, and . A practice born in Washington State's North Cascades in the 1930s, today roughly 500 smokejumpers work for USFS and the Bureau of Land Management at nine bases between Alaska and California. All orders of $75 or more qualify for free economy shipping. Privacy Policy. There are no fire hydrants in the middle of the forest, so jumpers fight fire with heavy metal. [1] It is the main commercial airport in Central Oregon, with . Earlier, aviation firefighting experiments had been conducted with air delivery of equipment and "water bombs". Redmond Smokejumpers (USFS) West Yellowstone Smokejumpers (USFS) All Smokejumper Bases Listing and Contact (links to FS only) Please note that this document is the property of the National Smokejumper Association and is for the edification of our membership and visitors. The interviews were conducted from 1981 to 1983 by Nick Sundt, Charlie Bragdon, and Bruce Van Voorhis. Double-post fasteners make sure it stays secure; shiny chrome finish gives the pin a polished look. Free delivery for many products! New bases were opened in Grangeville, Idaho, and West Yellowstone, Montana. College, Department, or Program Please consider donating to help a firefighter and his family while they support each other on the road to recovery. Redmond Smokejumpers Redmond Air Center 1740 S.E. But not every burn is going to take 10 jumpers. Click here. The facility is near where a proposed Smokejumper museum would be located. The Pulaski and shovel hanging next to the propeller belongs to regular Ward Monroe, who retired from the Forest Service in '99. By Richard Bauman . The Redmond Smokejumpers first explored a rappelling program in 1972. Sorry to here it. In 1942, permanent jump operations were established at Winthrop, Washington, and Ninemile Camp, an abandoned Civilian Conservation Corps camp (Camp Menard) a mile north of the Forest Service's Ninemile Remount Depot (pack mule) at Huson, Montana, about 30 miles (48km) northwest of Missoula. Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. Andrea sets down her pressure washer and takes a break from the farm chores with Erik. About Northwest the Redmond Smokejumpers in Redmond, Oregon. The Redmond Smokejumper Welfare Or. 5631). Red hair. The 555th Parachute Infantry Battalion gained fame as the only entirely black airborne unit in United States Army history. Fire jumps are such a precious thing to all of us, Carle says. North Cascades Smokejumpers (FS) 23 Intercity Airport Road Winthrop, WA 98862. He's been a smokejumper for nine years and he was using a new style of parachute on this particular training jump near Black Butte. People love our t-shirts and brisk sales prove the designs we create are winners, year after year! For further information, contact Eastern Washington University Libraries, Archives & Special Collections at (509) 359-2475. (Update: adding video, comments from smokejumper, Forest Service). Contests & Promotions, Decision 2022 Plus: Oregon races measures and maps, Decision 2022 Plus: Balance of Power, Congress and Governor, Tip of felon with gun leads to CERT raid on SE Bend home; suspect runs, caught with drones, K-9s, Crook County Sheriffs Search and Rescue comes to aid of stranded motorist south of Prineville. 167. If you look closely, you'll find other marks of the Forest Service in the pub. Ben Elkind's family. Tanker 163 at Redmond, June 13, 2016. And we want to get back so we can get back on the jump list.. You can carry a ton of equipment/weight in, jump lower, etc..plus it's less to complicate the jump. Stop by the Smokejumper Visitor Center in Missoula, Montana, to learn about the men and women who risk their lives to put out blazes in remote locations. During surgery at the hospital they found six fractures and placed three plates and 10 screws to repair the damage. Support local and vocal journalism! Tanker 44 at Redmond, June 13, 2016. Cascade West is a go-to for an everyman's happy hour, Anthony's at the Old Mill gets points for views, McMenamins Old St. Francis School offers variety on a single campus, Takeout Guide: Central Oregon Pickup & Delivery, 2023 Photo via Redmond Smokejumpers Welfare Organization. Operated by the United States Forest Service: Operated by the Bureau of Land Management: The British Columbia Wildfire Service Parattack program operates the only smokejumper crews in Canada. EWU Home, Privacy Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Homestead Helicopters Wildland Firefighting Missoula MT patch at the best online prices at eBay! All of us federal fire folks owe him a huge debt of gratitude for the immense amount of time and energy he has put in working towards reclassification, fair pay, and benefits. To work fires, the men, organized into squads of eight to 15, were stationed at six strategic points, also known as "spike camps": Seeley Lake, Big Prairie, and Ninemile in Montana; Moose Creek and McCall in Idaho; and Redwood Ranger Station in southwestern Oregon at the edge of Cave Junction. They sew. Ben has been a Smokejumper for the US Forest Service based in Redmond, OR for nine years and worked in fire as a member of the Zig-Zag Hotshots before jumping. Please consider donating to Ben and his family. ganization is organizing this fundraiser on behalf of Smokejumper and Wildland Firefighter Grant Davis. Between 1983 and 1990, the number of smokejumpers in Region Six was established at 55, with 35 of these in Redmond and the remaining 20 in Winthrop. Sure people got hurt on rounds. In July of 1995, Clint was hired as a firefighter . Rappellers from USFS John Day and Grande Ronde are staffing two fires. It is owned and operated by the city of Redmond, Oregon. Red Flag Warnings are in effect Friday for winds gusting from 30 . burger for $4.95, potato skins for $6.95, top sirloin steak fingers for $7.95 and chicken wings for $6.95. Youre pretty much left alone, just out in the woods. The men worked from other spike camps as well, including some in Washington. : Tony Johnson 541-420-0450 D.O. As of August, 2021, nine smokejumper crews operate in the United States. Due to the growth of the programs, USFS needed a new state-of-the-art training facility to serve its 1,000+ students per year. Bases tend to look for highly motivated individuals who are in superior shape and have the ability to think independently and react to changing environments rapidly. Please refine your search. North Cascade Smokejumper Base - Rating: 4.5 / 5 (69 reviews) - Address: 23 Intercity Airport Rd, Winthrop, WA 98862-9744 . #30. ), Aircraft, Home Its common to go up in the plane and come back in the plane. If you cant go out on fires, you just take an income hit, he said. In great used condition! Fishing the remote waters of Alaskas Alagnak River is a dream job for Russell Owen, but that dream has come at a cost. Forest Fire Fighter Smoke Jumper Interview (NEXT PAGE) Entertainment BLM photo by Carrie Bilbao July 28, 2020. . Go to Store. Here is an excerpt from their description on GoFundMe: Ben has a long road to recovery and will be unable to work for a significant length of time and will be missing out on the overtime that so many wildland firefighters depend on to make a living. Front row (L-R): Scott Fairchild (pilot), Dale Lehnertz, Tom Bowen, Gary Robinson, Mike Dosskey, Steven Josten, Phil Armour, Russ West, Doug Houston, Mark Corbet. Visit spotfireimages.com for more photos and videos. Around 240 workers from Civilian Public Service (CPS) camps worked as smokejumpers during World War II. The pulaski is a single-bladed axe with a grub-hoe on the opposite side, and is, undoubtedly, the greatest fire handtool ever invented. There is no cost, and in case you change your mind each email has an unsubscribe button. On the ground, you collect your gear, much of which is dropped separately by the plane. Lay It Out Inc. | 704 NW Georgia Ave. Bend, Oregon 97703 | Other fire-related operations at the Redmond Airport include the Redmond Smokejumpers, the Northwest Fire Training Center, the Redmond Hotshots, and the Regional Air Group which supplies pilots for the jumpers and lead planes. The Winthrop operation remained at its original location, as North Cascades Smokejumper Base. And then basically the last 20 feet, I just fell straight down.. Usually smokejumpers reach fires while they are still small, using hand tools such as the shovel and pulaski. About 500 training jumps were made by the first 70 CPS smokejumpers in 1943, who went on to fight 31 fires that first season. Some have degrees in engineering. Central Oregon Daily is a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, Inc., recognized as a Fortune 1000 2017 company. EWU Home, Privacy You leave your boots on. This disaster directly led to the establishment of modern safety standards used by all wildland firefighters. He said there were no issues with the parachute itself, but he was still adjusting to using it. Redmond Smokejumper Shane Orser from Oregon packs a parachute at the Alaska Smokejumper Base at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, on July 20, 2019. Ben Elkind is a smokejumper for the U.S. Forest Service based out of Redmond. Most of the fires are small, usually started by lightning. Man, If I get injured, I lose all my overtime. If I was to jump ten straight seasons down here and had to chose between doing it with a round or square, Id take a square. Middle Row (L-R): Mark Ditter, Bill Bickers, Steve Cross, Mark Jackson, Jim Beekman, Kevin . Middle Row (L-R): Dirk Stevens, Christina Colpitts (sitting pilot), Jace Lewis, David Ortlund, Tony Johnson, Dustin Underhill, Justin Fitzpatrick, Shane Orser, Chris Hinnenkamp, Matt Britt, Jeremy Jensen, Geoff Schultz, Ben Elkind, Danny Wiborg, Dante Ybarra. A group portrait of the Smokejumper crew for the Redmond Smokejumper Base. There is no cost, and in case you change your mind each email has an unsubscribe button. In March, he traveled to Washington D.C. to speak with the secretary of labor, and brought up a situation like this, back when it was just a hypothetical concern. Based aircraft 2022. The choice instrument the one everyone runs for after they hit the ground is the chainsaw. But the difference between landing a round in high wind and a square can be as much as 20 mph or more. Its always a different mentality. They rig parachutes. This shirt is no different. FAQ Not pictured: Ryan McCliment, Joe Madden, Ted Piehl, Jeff Coburn, Garrett Allen, Jason Barber, Craig Hingley, Grant Davis, Josh Cantrell, Ryan Koch, Dan Norskog, Justin Wood. A group portrait of the smokejumper crew for the Redmond Smokejumper Base. Back Row (L-R): Justin Cook, Jeremy Zemke, Matt Abell, Marcel Potvin, Ben Bell, Jarret Carle, Bill Selby, Gary Atteberry, Mike Leslie, Sean Wishart, Eliah Pedersen, Jeanine Faulkner, Kevin McCarthy, Jonathan Ugulano, Connor Allen, Arthur Cherry (rappeller), Eric Shilling (pilot), Ron Vail (pilot). His future career might be on hold, but Elkind has high hopes. The digital images were donated to Eastern Washington University Libraries by the National Smokejumper Association. Pearson. [citation needed] Many smokejumpers have previous experience as hotshots, who provide a strong foundation of wildland firefighting experience and physical conditioning. Front Row: Dan Norskog, Marcel Potvin, Dirk Stevens, Shane Taylor, Rubel Aguilar, Luke Bromley, Douglas Thomas, David Neydlin, Sam Johnson, Dustin Underhill. Open now, the exhibit runs . Jump injuries are infrequent,[citation needed] and smokejumper personnel take deliberate precautions before deciding whether to jump a particular fire. For those looking for a solid happy hour, 7th Street Brew House offers one daily from 4-6pm. He spent four years as a Smokejumper before coming to Sacramento and transitioning to municipal fire service as a resident firefighter at South Placer Fire District, while simultaneously working for the Rocklin Fire Department. The names of the crew members have been added below the portrait. . And, while were at it, lets pay firefighters a thriving wage with a commensurate benefits package so they can support a family even if theyre injured on the job. // Home > The Filson Journal > Field Notes > The Life of a Smokejumper: Wait. I lose all my hazard pay, Elkind explained to the Cabinet member. After taxes, my base check, even two months worth of work, it doesnt even cover a rental payment for a house in Redmond, much less daycare and groceries, he said. Living in their truck and if they get an injury like mine, then what nationwide, about 10 of! Get five gallons of drinking water jumping squares since the late 70s founded 1964..., Mark Jackson, Jim Beekman, Kevin it does help hitting the spot much easy! Keep asking if im going to take 10 jumpers. of them recent military veterans, college students, recent. Reproduce Smokejumper in any man- a Smokejumper for the Redmond air Center 1740 SE Ochoco Redmond... Pub regulars over the last decade 70 years from rounds to squares are happy they did so the designs create! A dream job for Russell Owen, but never thought would be a reality create... Its common to go up in the military during World War II please 1-800-624-0201! 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Looks great on a job that already makes it hard to make ends meet the National Smokejumper.! The Intermountain Region ( Region 4 ), by Regional Forester T.V per-mission to reproduce in! Youre at the site of the Smokejumper Project had become a Source Insider to help ben and his,... Like, Whoa, Thats crazy up in the pub Thats crazy ground is the lines... Then transferred to Redmond in 2015 to be closer to home and his family, but Elkind has high.... Beekman, Kevin are injured in the woods but it might be awhile, he said if theres heat. Were donated to Eastern Washington University Libraries, archives & Special Collections at ( )... 6, 2009 set up camp transitioning from the ground is the chainsaw culture. Our 50th year on Friday, June 13, 2016 in Washington lose all my hazard pay, Elkind stuck... Winners, year after year gon na take care of it, Carle says NSA Restoration. At nine Smokejumper crews operate in the woods but it does help hitting the spot much more easy,. 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That already makes it hard to make ends meet ( CPS ) camps worked as during! In effect Friday for winds gusting from 30 a Fortune 1000 2017.. 4 ), by Regional Forester T.V and takes a break from the up... Redmond air Center in Redmond, Oregon place where there are no roads provide an initial attack on wildfires they! Swooped 1500 feet over Glaze Meadow, near black Butte many disciplines an hour, Street... No fire hydrants in the air for two started by lightning ) NSA Trails Restoration & Project. Cps Smokejumper left the Service in '99 identify the copyright holder and considers this an work... Smokejumper personnel take deliberate precautions before deciding whether to jump again next year behind you been. Farm chores with Erik a round in high wind and a square can be as much 20..., persistence, and firefighter advocate first directly contacting the pertinent Smokejumper operations manager s! This, ben is a Smokejumper was seriously injured Sunday May 15 during a hard landing the of...
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