Author Topic: Idaho smokejumper killed in parachuting accident  (Read 696 times)

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Offline flowers

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Idaho smokejumper killed in parachuting accident
« on: September 28, 2013, 06:27:29 pm »
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/09/28/idaho-smokejumper-killed-in-parachuting-accident/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+foxnews%2Fnational+%28Internal+-+US+Latest+-+Text%29

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BOISE, Idaho –  Officials at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise say a Bureau of Land Management smokejumper has died in a parachuting accident while training.

Authorities say 40-year-old Mark T. Urban of Boise died Friday afternoon about 45 miles east of Boise when something went wrong with the deployment of his parachute.

BLM spokesman Ken Frederick says Urban was pronounced dead at the scene by a paramedic who arrived by helicopter.

Urban was one of about 75 smokejumpers at the Great Basin Smokejumper Base in Boise. Smokejumpers are firefighters who parachute into remote areas to fight wildfires.

Frederick says Urban had been a smokejumper for 10 years. He's survived by his wife, Rebecca, and parents.

Frederick says smokejumpers in Boise held a meeting Saturday morning to deal with the loss.


Offline happyg

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Re: Idaho smokejumper killed in parachuting accident
« Reply #1 on: September 28, 2013, 06:38:11 pm »
My husband made a lot of jumps while in the Marines. He later jumped for fun, for events, and taught classes. He used the old type parachutes because he said the newer ones weren't as much fun, and you didn't need all the skills.

However, in 1985, he broke his back stretching his legs to hit his target, that he missed by a few feet. That was a stupid move, but a lot of money was bet that day.  :silly:

This man's job is dangerous, and my best wishes to his family and friends.
« Last Edit: September 28, 2013, 06:39:02 pm by happyg »