Gary Grimm, a retired member of the Smokey Bear Hotshots, speaks to Donna Todd’s class at Yeso Elementary School on what it takes to be a smokejumper and why putting on the uniform and carrying the equipment are needed to jump in and combat wildfires. Todd wished to make the class’ chapter study on smokejumpers real and so invited Grimm, who detailed the skills, tools, equipment and dangers of being a smokejumper and shared his extensive background and experiences running hotshot crews fighting forest fires for many years. Smokejumpers are wildland firefighters who parachute into remote areas to combat wildfires. Grace Miller – Daily Press
