Smokejumper

A Memoir by One of America's Most Select Airborne Firefighters

By: Jason A. Ramos, Julian Smith

Narrated by: Ned Vaughn

Length: 5 hrs and 26 mins

Publisher's summary

A rare inside look at the thrilling world of smokejumpers, the airborne firefighters who parachute into the most remote and rugged areas of the United States, confronting the growing threat of nature's blazes.

Forest and wildland fires are growing larger, more numerous, and deadlier every year - record drought conditions, decades of forestry mismanagement, and the increasing encroachment of residential housing into the wilderness have combined to create a powder keg that threatens millions of acres and thousands of lives every year. One select group of men and women are part of America's front-line defense: smokejumpers. The smokejumper program operates through both the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Though they are tremendously skilled, and only highly experienced and able wildland firefighters are accepted into the training program, being a smokejumper remains an art that can be learned only on the job. Forest fires often behave in unpredictable ways: spreading almost instantaneously, shooting downhill behind a stiff tailwind, or even flowing like a liquid.

In this extraordinarily rare memoir by an active-duty jumper, Jason Ramos takes listeners into his exhilarating and dangerous world, explores smokejumping's remarkable history, and explains why their services are more essential than ever before.

©2015 Jason A. Ramos (P)2015 HarperCollins Publishers

A must read for all wildland firefighters

If your in wildfire...regardless of being a type 2, hand crew, engine crew, hot shot, or jumper...this is a must read. Very history focused and motivating!

interesting and informative

It was interesting to hear all the aspects of this job that I knew next to nothing about when starting the book. It was a little dry, but I enjoyed the information that I learned here. not a bad way to spend a few days of my commute.

A great book

Great book about a very noble profession. I have always had a fascination and great respect for those brave enough to enter into wild land firefighting. This book gives a great insight into the life of a smokejumper. It truly is a one of a kind job and only the best of the best are able to do it.

Insight into wild life fire fighting.

What did you love best about Smokejumper?

The author includes in depth background of forest ecology, fire fighting strategy, up to date technique /equipment and insight into personal motivation for the individuals who take up this line of work. We are threatened by wild fires every summer, and this book added to my knowledge, even though I thought I knew it all. I didn't. A very good read.

smokejumpers

What a great book,love the history. great job Ramos. Everyone should read this book. True Patriots, Americas hero's.

So very interesting

I enjoyed this audio book. Ned Vaughn's voice is so well suited to this story that I kept forgetting he was just reading and not telling his own story.
This is such an interesting memoir, full of drama, history, amazing and breathtaking accounts, all perfectly narrated.

Who knew?

I had no idea what a Smokejumpers was! WOW! What incredible sacrifice of unsung heroes.

Amazing Book along Side Fire on the Mountain

Very good book if you liked Fire on the Mountain, you have to read this Jason Ramos is an amazing story teller.

Thank you Smokejumper Ramos!

Inspirational and informative! As a chaplain who has been honored to serve on several wildland conflags in the Pacific Northwest, I wanted to learn more about the firefighters I am privileged to serve on occasion. I learned much more about smokejumpers, and wildland firefighters in general, from this book than any class I have attended. Thank you Jason, for putting out the fires yet not forgetting to pass the torch.

Must read

The story Ramos portrayed about ample jumpers helped me better understand what smoke jumpers do when they’re out in the field. I never knew they existed, but now I’m really impressed by our country’s training of these people. They are highly trained and will prevent fires from growing quicker than we realize.
It’s a quick read...even my husband was fascinated by the story when he heard me listening to this book in the house.