Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-06-28
CHUTE TROOPS
GUARD FORESTS
OF NORTHWEST

The virgin timberland Of western
/ Montana, northern Idaho and eastern
Idaho and eastern washington viii
again be guarded by parachute troops,
I trained to safeguard the natural re-
1 sources Of the northwest.
These stalwart firefighters Of the
forest service. selected from the ranks
for their physical qualities and mental
ease, win carry on a project IN fire
control pioneered last year In region
which has its headquarters at Missoula.
A project which. although developed
In the secluded wilds Of Blanchard
flats, IS air miles northeast OF Mis-
soula, gained national prominence
through the press and news reels and
even sent army bigwigS scurrying out
from Washington, d. c.. to witness
this latest brain child OF one Of the
most aggressive branches Of the fed
eral government.
Lightning Is Offender
Fire control heads OF region ! and
region at Spokane, agreed at a con-
ference In 1899 that the cost OF quell-
ing backwoods fires could be cut 500
percent II trained firefighters could
get at the blazeS a few minutes after
they we're started. Lightning was the
greatest offender IN causing these fires
which could not be reached by fire
crews until whipped into gigantic pro-
portions by menacing winds.
Unfortunately. lavish as the federal
highway program has been laying
highways across America. the nations
forests are stin without their paved
boulevards The only free navigable
space over much Of Uncle Sans forest
lands Is the free air above the tree
tops. and that Is where the forest
service decided to run their fire !
engines"
In June, 1910. seven experienced fire
fighters and smokechaSers between q |
and IS and weighing under 100 pounds, /
men who could face physical ordeal /
without getting the filters. began train /
ing at the Blanchard flats station as
region is pioneer parachute corps. For (
two weeks these men hardened their
muscles with rigorous daily calisthenic
exercises. Practice In the proper tech
nique Of battling out" Of an airplane
was obtained by jumping off six-foot
wooden platforms built to simulate the
cabin door OF a tri-motor plane such
as that later used in actual flights
On July u, 1910, the first actual
jump to a backwoods forest fire In
the United States was made by Rufus
Robinson and Earl Cooley the latter
a forestry student at Montana State
In his report to Fire Control
Chief Axel Lindh, Robinson describes
this pioneer achievement:
"On July IL at 2 p. m. Merle Lun-
drigan asked me to go to a fire at
the head of Martin creek / started
my jumping suit. fire pack
and equipment to take to the fire
The rest Of the crew helped haul all
equipment to the airport.
Spotted Forest Fire
Dick johnson arrived from Missoula
at sos with the plane. One OF the
crew helped me dress and get into
the harness Of the chute At 3:21 we
left the ground. johnson headed the
plane downrtver to gain elevation.
Turned at Goat mountain and headed
back toward Bear creek. Turned again
and followed Ditch creek, over top Of
Moose ridge close to Wyle's peak look
put. Spotted fire on east slope OF !
Martin creek. :
johnson circled fire at about 1000
'eet elevation. Fire looked TO be about
u acres in green timber fairly open
asked johnson to take plane I'D
higher to around 1900 feet He circIed
,ver fire once more and spotted alder
latch Of about two acres, above. fire
% Jump into. Dropped burlap test
.hute at 1855 which drifted into Martin
.reek north and east of the fire.
II bailed out at 1857. Wind had /
hanged between time Of dropping test
.hute and when I jumped, caught a
Town draft and heavy ground wind, /
.arrying me over alder patch half
nile rlnrth Landed II, small nrrear, tree | y