Tales of people fighting fires go way back in the region. And there's a special aura of mystery and romance around smokejumpers, people who actually jump out of planes (yes, with parachutes) to fight wildfires.
Mystery and romance? More like grunts and groans, from the tales of the smokejumpers themselves.
The physical conditioning they undergo to be ready for action is challenging, to say the least.
This month's Stories of Southern Oregon features a return visit from Gary Buck of the Siskiyou Smokejumper Base Museum near Cave Junction. He gives us a glimpse into the life of a skydiving firefighter.