Over 400 vivid color photos show aircraft used around the globe to fight forest and open-range fires. Includes fire-extinguishing planes known as airtankers, firefighting helicopters, transports, and direction and command planes essential to successful firefighting. Many rare, never-before-published images show firefighting aircraft in action. The detailed text provides technical descriptions of forest fire fighting and speculates on the future of firefighting aviation. This book is a must for every reader fascinated by aviation or firefighting.

This synthesis study is intended to provide a review of current airport and agency [primarily the U.S. Forest Service (USFS)] practices, policies, and procedures at airports called upon to support aerial wildland firefighting suppression efforts. Information used in this study was acquired through a review of the literature and interviews with ten airport operators (representing 13 airports), two commercial helicopter operators, and one regional fire center manager to gather insights on the current state of airport practices that support aerial wildland firefighting suppression efforts. The interviews followed a series of questions in areas such as community and economic matters, contracts, operations, and general business practices. While the interviews were structured, the interviewees were encouraged to freely discuss matters related to the topic of the study and to offer information on the subject that they believed was important--

This “terrifying, grimly funny” memoir about fighting forest fires in Alaska offers “an affectionate portrait of a fraternity of daredevils” (The New Yorker). A Los Angeles Times Best Book of the Year Fighting fires since 1965, legendary smokejumper Murry A. Taylor finally hung up his chute after the summer of 2000—the worst fire season in more than fifty years. In Jumping Fire, Taylor recounts in thrilling detail one summer of parachuting out of planes to battle blazes in the vast, rugged wilderness of Alaska, with tales of training, digging fire lines, run-ins with bears, and the heroics of fellow jumpers who fell in the line of duty. This unique memoir, filled with humor, fear, tragedy, joy, and countless stories of man versus nature at its most furious, is a “tale of love and loss, life and death, and sheer hard work, set in an unforgiving and unforgettable landscape” (Publishers Weekly). “Filled with adventure, danger and tragedy.” —The New York Times Book Review “A beautifully crafted, wise yet thrilling book.” —Los Angeles Times

The expert instructors at the Seattle Fire Department offer a comprehensive explanation of how to develop and implement an effective air management program for departments of any size. This handbook includes examples from international departments, the newest technology breakthroughs, and more.

Africa is a fire continent. Since the early evolution of humanity, fire has been harnessed as a land-use tool. Many ecosystems of Sub-Sahara Africa that have been shaped by fire over millennia provide a high carrying capacity for human populations.