Russian water bomber IL-76

[Great-Kazoo]

When I flew smoke-jumpers, you definitely had to have your head on a swivel. And that was with just a few airplanes around. Maybe a lead plane, us, and a tanker. I can't imagine what a fire like this has going on in regards to aircraft all over the place.

I have to wonder now that I think about it, why the heck doesn't Colorado have a smoke-jumper base?

The low visibility is one factor. I'm out in windsor and even west of 25 you cannot see shit.
Smoke jumpers are mostly in the north and PNW. The crews i dealt with were all Montana Indians. Insane guys whose only goal is to stop or minimize the fires path, knowing a shift in the wind could be fatal.

And yes the russian flight safety record is dismal to say the least.

[ColoWyo]

Smoke jumpers are initial attack. They are on scene long before visibility is an issue. At least that is my experience as a pilot flying them to the fire and having them jump out of my plane in AK and the NW.

Being one of (if not the) most heavily populated states in the Rocky Mountains, it seems like it would make sense to have a smoke jumper base in Colorado.