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.

害羞草研究所淛umper害羞草研究所檚 away,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渏umpships.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所渢ake what seems ultra-extreme and make it seem mundane.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所�165 operational fire jumps in 2023, more than doubling the previous record of 82.害羞草研究所�

Reinboldt said this season is a 害羞草研究所渃ontinuation of last year.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 not quite as busy as last season, but a lot of those fires burned over the winter,害羞草研究所� he said, adding that while there haven害羞草研究所檛 been nearly as many 害羞草研究所渋nitial attack starts害羞草研究所� 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.害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淧retty well every crew has been busy already this year,害羞草研究所� said Jones, based out of Mackenzie. 害羞草研究所淣ot flat out like last season (was) yet, but it害羞草研究所檚 been steady.害羞草研究所�

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.

害羞草研究所淎irplanes give us some flexibility,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭he trade off there is, of course, you can害羞草研究所檛 land airplanes in the wilderness so that害羞草研究所檚 where the parachuting comes in.害羞草研究所�

As a command spotter, a main role of Jones害羞草研究所� job is to assess wind conditions before deploying jumpers.

Wind drift indicators, or 害羞草研究所渟treamers,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渓ike every other wildfire crew.害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所�(It害羞草研究所檚) 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,害羞草研究所� he said.

害羞草研究所淐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,害羞草研究所� 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 he害羞草研究所檚 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.

害羞草研究所淲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.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淚 used to take my vacation to jump, so I enjoy it,害羞草研究所� he said.

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

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a very in-the-moment job, which is what I think a lot of people seek it out,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 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 you害羞草研究所檙e doing when you害羞草研究所檙e jumping out of an aircraft into a forested area that has a wildfire.害羞草研究所�

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

害羞草研究所淎fter you害羞草研究所檝e done it enough, it害羞草研究所檚 no longer a fear thing (and) it害羞草研究所檚 more of a performance anxiety, combined with that 害羞草研究所榠n-the-moment害羞草研究所� part that you like, but really, it害羞草研究所檚 being on the firelines with the crews,害羞草研究所� he said.

All firefighting is dangerous, so training is essential, he said, noting it害羞草研究所檚 no different than any other firefighting unit.

Both Jones and Reinboldt say there害羞草研究所檚 a misconception that the crews are only used to access remote areas.

害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 part of what it does, but the main reason we do it is speed, range and payload,害羞草研究所� Reinboldt said. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a very quick way to get personnel and equipment to a fire and the parachutes. It害羞草研究所檚 just a solution to a problem.害羞草研究所�

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 害羞草研究所� where he began his smokejumping career 害羞草研究所� all had programs that have since folded.

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

害羞草研究所淭he ability to have medical response,害羞草研究所� he said when asked what he hopes for the program害羞草研究所檚 future.

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

Reinboldt said he害羞草研究所檚 excited to get back jumping and smiled at he reflected on a conversation with a friend about the job.

害羞草研究所淎nd every once in a while, whether it害羞草研究所檚 a sunset or whatever, there害羞草研究所檒l be a perfect moment. He said smoke jumping has an above average number of perfect moments.害羞草研究所�

Brieanna Charlebois, The Canadian Press