Siskiyou Smokejumpers

April 20, 2024

On our way from Klamath Falls, OR, to Crescent City, CA, we passed through Cave Junction, OR. We had thought we’d take a day trip back to visit Oregon Caves National Monument. Just down the road we saw the sign for Siskiyou Smokejumper Museum. Great! We’d have two things to do on our day trip.

After reading the cave restrictions regarding gear, shoes, apparel, etc, to protect the bats against white nose syndrome, we decided to skip the experience. I can’t tell you what I wore yesterday, let alone over the past year or so where we’ve been in several caves. I do know I only have one pair of jeans and one pair of hiking shoes and we had been in Lava Beds National Monument only a week or so earlier.

We still decided to take the hour scenic drive to the Siskiyou Smokejumper Museum. We were curious as to what it would contain. Our tour guide, Mike, was stationed at Siskiyou in the 1970’s. This particular station, which was closed in 1980, got its start in WWII. Well, for the most part. There was talk just prior to the war of how to protect the remote forest areas. However, when the war started, things got a bit delayed.

However, during the war, the Japanese started sending incendiary balloon bombs with hopes of starting massive forest fires to both rob the US of natural resources and to demoralize the people. Smokejumpers were needed to access remote areas of forest and put out the fires before those fires became serious threats. Where do you get able-bodied men to be smokejumpers when most are overseas fighting?

The forest service looked eastward to conscientious objectors, mainly Brethren and Mennonite men, who while opposed to killing people, were not opposed to helping their country. They also utilized the Triple Nickles, a black paratrooper unit that was not permitted to fight.  After the war ended, many veterans, especially paratroopers, filled the ranks.

Today, while the forest service utilizes many advanced tools to fight fires, nothing will take the place of the smokejumper.

 Where Are We Going Next?