BIGFORK, MONTANA—
USDA Forest Service Ranger Station
Parachuting and nonpowered aircraft incidents · Multiple severe wounds and internal injuries
Final narrative
A smoke jumper parachuted out of a helicopter during a forest fire response, landed on steep rugged terrain, and suffered femur and rib fractures and a liver laceration. The employee was hospitalized.
Similar incidents · Same event type
WEST YELLOWSTONE, MONTANA—
Custer Gallatin National Forest
An employee was performing a proficiency jump during smokejumper training. Increasing wind and turbulent air caused the employee to have a hard landing; the employee suffered a fractured femur, a fractured right foot, and compression fractures to two lower-back vertebrae. The employee was hospitalized.
MCCALL, IDAHO—
Forest Service - Payette National Forest
During a practice jump while training, a smoke jumper landed hard on the ground with most of the force on their head and neck area. They sustained a fracture to the T4 vertebra which required hospitalization and surgery.