THE SMOKE JUMPERS
A new kind of parachutist has arisen, or rather has descended, on the forests of the Far West. He is the Smoke Jumper, who is carried by aeroplane wherever a forest fire threatens, and who, choosing his place of descent, placidly drops by parachnte on the spot where he can do most good in preventing the spread of the fire. The parachutes are of the unusual diameter of 30 feet, and owing to their size descend only at 12 feet a second, so that the smoke jumper,, though descending from. 8000 feet, finds small hazard in landing. Even if he descends among the forest trees the danger has not been found to be so much as expected. Rather do the trees act as cushions. If the parachute is caught mi them it is not much damaged, and the parachutist carries with him a rope to help him to climb down. He wears also an asbestos-padded suit and a crash helmet, and hitherto not one accident has happened to a smoke jumper.
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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/BPB19401030.2.38
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Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 231, 30 October 1940, Page 7
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174THE SMOKE JUMPERS Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 231, 30 October 1940, Page 7
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