Wildland Fire Crews & Aviation
Wildfire response in the United States is built from specialized resources: hand crews that cut fireline, engines that pump water, aircraft that drop retardant, and crews delivered by parachute or helicopter to fires no road can reach.
The North Idaho Rappellers are one of those resources, a U.S. Forest Service helicopter rappel crew based in Hayden, Idaho. This section explains the major wildland fire crew types and where helicopter rappelling fits.
The major crew types
Two programs come up most often in questions about this work: smokejumpers, who parachute from fixed-wing aircraft to remote fires, and helicopter rappellers, helitack firefighters who rappel from a hovering helicopter into terrain with no landing zone.
For a single guide covering these crews along with helitack, hotshots, engines, and hand crews, see Wildland Fire Crews.
Common questions
The most frequent question we hear is how rappellers differ from smokejumpers. That comparison has its own page: Smokejumpers vs. Helicopter Rappellers.
If you are interested in doing this work, the Recruitment page explains hiring and qualifications, and The Job describes life on this crew.
In this section
- FIREWildland Fire HubYou are here
- RAPPELHelicopter RappellersWhat wildland fire rappel crews are and why they exist.
- JUMPSmokejumpingParachute-delivered wildland firefighters, explained.
- COMPAREdifferent types of Aerially delivered firfightersHow the two aerial delivery methods compare.
- CREWSWildland Fire CrewsThe full guide to the major crew types.