Caption
High over the forests of Saskatchewan's Lac la Ronge district, an aerial-borne spotter of the provincial fire control service sees the first tell-tale signs of a forest fire wisping up from dense timber stands. Information is radioed to smoke-jumper's headquarters at Lac la Ronge.
Date
September 1, 1952
Accession Number
LAC-NFB64308
Materials
Black and white negative
Photographer
Enumber
e011175902
Collection
National Film Board of Canada
Credit Line
Library and Archives Canada, Mikan no. 205928
Caption
Leader of four-man smoke-jumper crew await jump master's signal before parachuting from float-equipped Norseman aircraft to fire in timberlands of Lac la Ronge area. Experienced jumpers can land within 200 feet of a blaze, ready to begin the tough job of getting it under control.
Date
September 1, 1952
Accession Number
LAC-NFB64311
Materials
Black and white negative
Photographer
Enumber
e011175903
Collection
National Film Board of Canada
Credit Line
Library and Archives Canada, Mikan no. 205928
Caption
Final briefing and check of jumping equipment is made as smoke-jumper crew prepares to fly to scene of forest fire. Each jumper carries compass, knife, first aid kit, and 90-foot rope used to lower himself in case of tree-top landing. 76-pound fire-fighting pack is dropped by separate chute.
Date
September 1, 1952
Accession Number
LAC-NFB64312
Materials
Black and white negative
Photographer
Enumber
e011175904
Collection
National Film Board of Canada
Credit Line
Library and Archives Canada, Mikan no. 205928
Caption
Acting on report from patrol aircraft, Jump Master Dennis Kelly (left), of the provincial Department of Natural Resources Fire Control Service plot's fire location on map in Lac la Ronge radio station.
Date
September 1, 1952
Accession Number
LAC-NFB64314
Materials
Black and white negative
Photographer
Enumber
e011175905
Collection
National Film Board of Canada
Credit Line
Library and Archives Canada, Mikan no. 205928
Photostory #16: Saskatchewan Smoke Jumpers: Peacetime Paratroops
Photographers
Maker
National Film Board of Canada
Release Date
July 5, 1955
Collection
CMCP fonds
Credit Line
Canadian Museum of Contemporary Photography fonds, National Gallery of Canada Library and Archives
Main Text
Parachuting 2,000 from an aircraft into rugged timberlands and fighting a roaring forest fire is all in a day's work for the "smoke jumpers" of Saskatchewan's Department of Natural Resources Fire Control Service. Organized eight years ago, this unique service has saved thousands of dollars annually in rich timber by getting its well-trained fire-fighting crews to isolated outbreaks in a hurry. Once on the ground, smoke-jumpers job is to put out fire or keep it under control until help arrives overland. Rigid training programme keeps jumpers in top physical condition all year round.
Locations:
