North Idaho Rappellers — U.S. Forest Service Helicopter Rappel Crew

The North Idaho Rappellers are a U.S. Forest Service helicopter rappel crew based in Hayden, Idaho, and hosted by the Idaho Panhandle National Forests. Our primary mission is rapid initial attack on emerging wildfires, particularly in the steep, timbered, and remote terrain of the Northern Rockies.

When helicopters cannot safely land near a fire, rappelling provides an alternative means of delivering firefighters and equipment to the incident. In addition to our primary rappel mission, the crew performs conventional helitack operations, including personnel and cargo transport, reconnaissance, and logistical support.

Throughout the fire season, we respond to incidents across northern Idaho and the surrounding region, while remaining available for national pre-positioning and assignments in support of emerging wildfire activity.