FAIRBANKS - Bureau of Land Management Alaska Fire Service (BLM AFS) Smokejumpers will take to the sky starting April 8 in preparation for the upcoming fire season. The required refresher and training jumps will occur in April and May, primarily between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Smokejumpers will be parachuting in four primary areas:
• Near Birch Hill on Fort Wainwright
• Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project
• 2.3 Mile Chena Hot Springs Road
• Nordale Road just north of Chena River Bridge
The refresher jumps for returning smokejumpers will occur once or twice per day between 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on certain days between April 8 and May 11.
The tempo will increase with the addition of rookie jumps May 11-15 and May 18-22 and then parachuted cargo drops, known as paracargo, at the Chena River Lakes Flood Control Project May 12-15. The rookie training jumps will occur up to four times a day between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. The paracargo training on the Chena Flood Plain includes as many as five lifts each day between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. If necessary, alternate dates for paracargo training will occur May 18-22.
Changes may occur due to weather and other limiting factors. Smokejumpers will continue to use these jump spots for ongoing proficiency training through mid-September.
Pilots should check the Notices to Airmen (NOTAMs) for information about smokejumper aircraft, and avoid flying over these areas while jumps and paracargo drops are taking place.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
