Science to help smokejumpers land safely

Photo Credit

Adapted from Wagenbrenner et al. 2024

Graphic of modeled wind turbulence (measured as turbulent kinetic energy, or TKE) at the Eicks Fire smokejumper landing accident site. Red indicates higher TKE.

The computer program WindNinja is widely used on wildland fires to provide detailed information on wind speed and direction. New research shows that it can also be used in smokejumper operations to predict wind and turbulence conditions near the ground in mountainous terrain. In a recent study, scientists used WindNinja to reveal information that could have been useful to smokejumpers at the site of the 2021 Eicks Fire landing accident.

Turbulence near the ground is difficult to observe, but it can significantly affect a smokejumper’s ability to land safely. By forecasting turbulence in the column of air above a potential landing site in real-time with WindNinja, firefighters can better assess the best jump spots for smokejumpers in complex terrain. This can reduce parachute accidents and increase the safety of aerial firefighting operations.

The WindNinja program creates outputs in minutes and has both web and app interfaces, making it useful in the field. Researchers have also developed a beta version of an app that smokejumpers can use to assess turbulence for training and operational jumps. It will be ready for testing during the 2025 spring smokejumper training season.  

Forest Service research leads innovations to improve firefighter safety and provides the practical knowledge and tools fire managers need. Scientists are developing emerging technologies to use satellites for early detection of fires, drones for wildfire operations, and mobile applications for safety.