Jumping to the Fire

The plane’s door opens. Naomi sits in the doorway. She hangs her legs out the side. The wind beats against her face. 

A fire burns in the forest below. Naomi is a smokejumper. She is going to put the fire out. 

She has to jump from a plane to do it.

Her teammate slaps her on the shoulder. That means it’s time to go. Naomi is ready. She pushes herself out of the plane. 

Whoosh! She is falling through the air. 

But she is calm. She counts for five seconds. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Now she pulls the cord of her parachute. 

The parachute opens above her. It slows down her fall. 

Naomi drifts down to the ground. She lands safely away from the fire. 

The plane’s door opens. Naomi sits in the doorway of the plane. 

Below, the forest is on fire. Naomi is a special kind of firefighter. She is a smokejumper. She is going to help put out the fire.

First, she has to jump from a plane.

Her teammate taps her on the shoulder. It’s time to go. Naomi is ready. She jumps out of the plane.

She is falling through the air.

She is calm. She counts. 

1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Next, she pulls the cord of her parachute. 

The parachute opens above her. It slows her down. Naomi lands safely.

Naomi drifts down to the ground. She lands safely away from the fire. 

The plane’s door opens. Naomi sits in the doorway and hangs her legs out the side. The wind beats against her face.

A fire burns in the forest below. Naomi is a smokejumper, and she is going to put the fire out.

But first she has to jump from a plane to do it.

Her teammate slaps her on the shoulder—it’s time to go. Naomi is ready and pushes herself out of the plane.

Whoosh! She is falling through the air.

But she is calm. She counts for five seconds and pulls the parachute cord.

The parachute opens above her. It slows down her fall. Naomi drifts down to the ground and lands safely away from the fire.

There are nine other smokejumpers on the team. They land one after the other. 

Now they get ready to fight the fire. First, they take off their jumpsuits. Those are the outfits they jumped in. They don’t need them anymore. They are wearing fireproof clothes underneath. That means the clothes can’t be burned. 

People up in the plane drop boxes of shovels, chain saws, and other tools. It’s time to hike to the fire. 

There are nine other people on the team. They all land on the ground.

They get ready to fight the fire. First, they take off the clothes they jumped in. Underneath they are wearing fireproof clothes. That means the clothes can’t be burned.

People up in the plane drop boxes. Shovels, chain saws, and other tools are in the boxes. It’s time to hike to the fire. 

The nine other smokejumpers on the team land one after the other.

Now they get ready to fight the fire. First, they take off their jumpsuits. They don’t need them anymore. They are wearing fireproof clothes underneath.

People up in the plane drop boxes of shovels, chain saws, and other tools. It’s time to hike to the fire. 

Smoke fills the air. Naomi sees flames on trees. She and her team must put them out before they burn more of the forest or get to a town. 

The smokejumpers cut away leaves, bushes, and branches. Those can burn! They use chain saws and axes. 

They are cutting a line around the fire. It’s called a  fire line. It stops the fire from spreading. 

They dig into the ground. They make the line deeper. It takes hours. 

It’s hot. The air smells like burning pine needles. 

Finally, the fire line is done! The fire can’t get past it!

Smoke fills the air. Naomi sees the trees on fire. She and her team must put them out.

The smokejumpers cut away leaves and branches. They cut away bushes. 

They are cutting a line around the fire. It’s called a fire line. It stops the fire from spreading.

They dig into the ground. It takes a long time.

It’s hot. The air smells like burning pine needles. 

Finally, the fire line is done!

Smoke fills the air. Naomi sees flames on trees. She and her team must put them out before they burn more of the forest or get to a town.

The smokejumpers cut away the leaves, bushes, and branches that can burn. They use chain saws and axes.

They are cutting a line or trench around the fire that is called a fire line. It prevents the fire from spreading.

They dig into the ground, making the trench deeper. It takes hours.

It’s hot, and the air smells like burning pine needles.

Finally, the fire line is done! The fire can’t get past it!

Now the brave smokejumpers do a dangerous job. The trees inside the fire line are still burning. Naomi and the other jumpers cut them down. 

The chain saws cutting down the trees are loud. Brum-brum-brrrrrr!

Crash! The trees fall. Now Naomi crawls on her hands and knees. She mixes anything that is burning or warm with dirt. That puts the fire out. 

This takes hours too. Sometimes the smokejumpers stay over many nights to put the whole fire out. They put up tents and sleep outside.

Naomi and the other jumpers keep feeling the ground. At last, it’s cold. 

They did it! They stopped the fire! 

They are covered in ash and dirt. They are filthy. They are sweaty and tired. 

But the forest is saved, thanks to brave Naomi and her team. 

Now the smokejumpers do a dangerous job. Naomi and the others cut down the trees that are burning.

The chain saws are loud. 

Crash! The trees fall. 

Naomi crawls on her hands and knees. She mixes anything that is burning with dirt. The dirt puts out the fire.

This also takes a long time. Sometimes it takes many days for the smokejumpers to put the whole fire out. They sleep in tents outside.

Naomi and the other jumpers keep checking if the ground is warm. If it is warm, the fire could still spread. At last, the ground is cold.

They did it! They stopped the fire!

They are dirty. They are sweaty. They are tired.

The forest is saved. Thank you, Naomi and team!

Now the brave smokejumpers do a dangerous job. The trees inside the fire line are still burning, and they have to cut them down.

The chain saws cutting down the trees are loud. Brum-brumbrrrrrr!

Crash! The trees fall.

Now Naomi crawls on her hands and knees mixing dirt with anything that is burning or warm. That puts the fire out.

This takes hours too. Sometimes the smokejumpers stay over many nights to put the whole fire out. They put up tents and sleep outside.

Naomi and the other jumpers keep feeling the ground—at last, it’s cold.

They did it! They stopped the fire!

They are filthy and covered in ash and dirt. They are sweaty and exhausted.

But the forest is saved, thanks to brave Naomi and her team.