smokejumper

American  

[smohk-juhm-per] / ˈsmoʊkˌdʒʌm pər /

noun

1. a firefighter who parachutes to forest fires inaccessible to ground crews.

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Etymology

Origin of smokejumper

First recorded in 1925–30; smoke + jumper ¹

Example Sentences

That smokejumper position up in Alaska, for instance, would see a 30% raise — from $18.06 to $23.48 an hour.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 25, 2023

A bill that would accomplish these measures, named for the late Forest Service smokejumper Tim Hart, appears unlikely to pass this legislative session.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 25, 2023

In 2013, veteran Bureau of Land Management smokejumper Mark Urban died during a training exercise in Idaho when his parachute malfunctioned.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 9, 2023

At its peak in the 1990s to early 2000s, the smokejumper program routinely saw 700-800 applicants per year.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 9, 2023

On a recent afternoon, Curdy — a rancher and retired teacher and smokejumper — knocked on doors in a middle-class neighborhood on the more conservative side of the district.

From Washington Post • Oct. 12, 2022