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| As Alaska continued to burn into August, fire activity was flaring up in the lower 48. One load of Alaska Smokejumpers was called to reinforce our Boise BLM counterparts, now stretched thinly across the western states. Lightning pelted the Jarbidge Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe Forest in Nevada, and we were ready to respond. Helicopters had ferried the district ranger and a small squad to the firelines, and they called for smokejumpers, inmate crews and air support. "Jarbidge" is a Shoshone Indian word meaning "weird beastly creature", but this fire assignment turned out to be a beauty. Our jumpspot was on the ridgeline at about 9000 feet. The hike to the firelines was on a steep and densley wooded, rocky path, and flames spread mostly from rolling logs and pinecones until we could get trenches around hot spots. The "Wildcat Fire" was a high altitude reprieve from Alaska wildfires, however brief. After four shifts, the eight Alaska Smokejumpers had their down south trip cut short - fire season was back on track far to the north. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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