Updated 9 a.m. MDT May 29, 2021
A Gofundme account has been set up for Tim Hart who was critically injured while parachuting into the Eicks Fire in southeastern New Mexico. He works out of the jumper base at West Yellowstone, Montana.
Below is the text from Gofundme, May 29, 2021:
On May 24th, West Yellowstone Smokejumper Tim Hart suffered multiple injuries after a hard landing during a fire jump in southern New Mexico. Tim was flown via air ambulance to a hospital in El Paso, Texas where he remains in critical condition.
Tim has been a wildland firefighter since 2006. He began his career working on an engine for the Coconino National Forest, and continued in that capacity on the Fremont-Winema NF and the Shoshone NF. After his engine time, he became a Lead Firefighter and Squadleader on the Asheville Interagency hotshot crew. He later held squadleader positions on Augusta IHC and Ruby Mountain IHC. Tim accepted a rookie smokejumper position in 2016 at Grangeville, Idaho. He moved to the West Yellowstone Smokejumper Base as a squadleader in 2019. Tim’s talents and natural leadership have been a big part in the success of all the functional areas here in West. He is willing to take things on very thoughtfully and methodically, and with a sense of humor.
Whatever the task is in front of him- whether it’s preparing for fire jumps or cargo drops, building furniture for his new home in Cody, WY or improvising a musical jam session with his wife Michelle, he rises to the challenge! His “get- it- done” attitude will serve him well on his journey to recovery.
Thank you for supporting Tim and his family during this incredibly difficult time. They have a long road ahead of them, and any burden we may be able to lift would be greatly appreciated.
Keep Tim in your thoughts and prayers…. and keep the whiskey nearby to celebrate all of Tim’s victories down the road.
6:37 p.m. MDT, May 26, 2021
This article was first published at FireAviation.com
6:34 p.m. MDT May 26, 2021
A U.S. Forest Service smoke jumper was seriously injured Monday after a hard landing at a wildfire in New Mexico. Tim Hart of Cody, Wyoming was dispatched to help suppress the Eicks Fire in the Animas Mountains of southeastern New Mexico, nine miles north of the Mexico border. He works out of the jumper base at West Yellowstone, Montana.
Mr. Hart was flown by air ambulance to a hospital in El Paso and was in critical condition. “The Forest Service’s first priority is to provide for him and his family right now,” said Marna Daley, Forest Service spokeswoman. “We are working with the smokejumper and firefighter community to make sure those needs are being met.”
The Eicks Fire has burned 850 acres of grass and brush since it was reported May 24, 2021 in very rugged terrain along the Continental Divide. No structures have burned and none are threatened.
Some media outlets initially reported that the injured person was a Hotshot firefighter, but in a Congressional hearing on Tuesday Chief of the Forest Service Vicki Christiansen said it was a smokejumper.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Tom.
I had the opportunity to have the pleasure of working with Tim last summer. Solid as a leader and in firefighting. As serious as they come, but I’ll never forget the shift in his beard and twinkle in his eyes that told me he posses a passion for what he does. Would work with him anywhere. Personally, having been struck by a tree my fears were could I continue working in this field. Made it out on the line ten days later. Pain was not my friend for years and I never asked for any understanding. Tim needs to know that we have compassion for him. That he is loved by his work community and still want him to feel that he is part of us. Volunteer your support for Tim how ever you can. my guess is that he too might be short in asking for understanding.
This is the bull**** we are fighting to change. Tim is a GS-7. He shouldn’t be risking his life for $22/hour. And a system based on unplannable income totally fails when you get injured. ALL the pressure is on the employee when they rely on Hazard Pay and Overtime.
So “continuation of pay” for 45 days, then workman’s comp at 60% of base pay and if he can’t continue to work then medical retirement based on GS-7 base wages… Completely F*****.
Share your thoughts with New Mexico Senator Heinrich and Senator Feinstein and others. Share your thoughts with FS Chief Vicki Christiansen and Laurel McClean, her executive assistant.
This is heartbreaking and infuriating. But bitching in the comments isn’t enough. Reach out to senate leadership and FS/BLM leadership. This happens much more than people see
If you can help Tim and his family, here is the place to do it.
https://www.gofundme.Com/f/support-smokejumper-tim-hart-his-family?utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&utm_medium=copy_link_all&utm_source=customer
Maybe you can put this in the article Bill?
Done. Thanks for letting me know.
I would like to see statistical data (50 yrs) that reflects serious injuries to jumpers, training jumps and IA jumps, I have thought for sometime now that this delivery system is a bit antiquated, it sure made sense when we had no rotor wing assets but now that he have rappel capabilities maybe we should do more with that program. It is not at all uncommon to hear of folks getting jacked up on jumps. Yes by all means lets be aggressive, risk vs. gain, that old earth that is covered w/ things that can and will hurt you when you hit hard….right….
No Hela jumping….lol…..NO!
And risk. vs. gain on Nickle an acre scrub land, that has always bothered me, how many time have I asked myself what the heck are we doing out here, and maybe the answer is a simple one….just because…..
I pray that the FF is doing well and she/he makes a 100% recovery and quickly, it would be disappointing to miss the rest of the fire season to be sure.
I mean no disrespect nor offence, jumpers have been a big part of our FF-ing culture and they certainly do there part, it could be time for a little rethinking……A more balanced approach using rotor and jumpers. Maybe I am way off base with this.
Peace……
Rappelers rappel out of a helicopter at 250 ft. Smokejumpers jump out of an aircraft at 3K ft. Speed and distance is a factor where smokejumpers can make a difference getting to any fire. Use all the tools in the toolbox you have. Both are tools, you use whatever tool is appropriate and most advantageous for the situation. And many times both are used at the same time.
This is very unfortunate, I hope he recovers fully.
Bill, thank you for your continued work and your decades of dedication to the wildland fire community. We go back to Wildfire magazine days. I retired and remain interested, but you’ve really sustained a helpful and meaningful presence in Fire. I admire that and express my respect.
Thanks George. Good to hear from you.
X2
Is the risk/benefit of jumping a private land fire in arid desert that threatens nothing worth it? Full suppression? Hope the smokejumper recovers fully from his injuries with no lasting ill effects.
No, it sure doesn’t seem worth it 🙁
Everyone says that when a firefighter gets injured, then people say we’re not aggressive enough when we lose fires. Can’t win sometimes. Fact is, it’s a dangerous job. Which is why I support the Grassroots movement folks. We don’t get paid enough to get injured.
Fire protection for homeowners are fought all the time all across the U.S. What’s the difference between jumping a fire on private land or driving to it in an engine and getting injured or killed?
Fires start on public land, fires start on private land, whether it be natural cause or human cause. Mother Nature knows not the difference.