In the Line of Duty: Smoke Jumpers

The following is inspired

by the true story of Don and Rene Mackey,

and the tragic forest fire

at Storm King Mountain, Colorado in 1994.

Lawson.

Yes!

Timmerman.

Tempstead.

Astral.

Ryle.

All right.

Mackey..

Whoa!

Mackey, you bring an apple?

A what?

Anybody got an apple for the rookie?

Yeah, I got one.

Everybody does now.

Things get rough, you stick that in your mouth.

I wouldn't want you to be roasted without the trimming.

- He's right. - All right everybody,

let's hook up, come on.

After you.

Go.

Go.

Go.

Can I get a firefighter in here.

I need some help over there.

I got a.

Keep an eye up for spot fires,

this bugger's hot, go.

Don, Astral, if that tree falls across our line,

the fire's gonna jump at us.

Take it out, go.

Come on, we gotta get out of here.

Thanks.

Hey guys, watch your backs.

Yeah!

Hey guys, good work.

I do believe this line is going to hold.

Yeah.

Is that our stage down there?

Well, now we put out the fire and it started raining.

The hotshots are here, we're saved.

Who's the jumper in charge?

Tom Class on, good to meet you.

So how was the fire?

Well, we had fun.

Yeah, should have been here sooner.

Keep telling you boys, why take the bus when we could fly?

There's still some mopping up to do.

The fire line starts about 100 yards past that gully.

Yeah, but you watch out for re-burn.

We wouldn't watch y'all to be taters now.

You know, one of these days cowboy,

you're gonna jump outta that airplane and go splurt.

And then you'll wish you'd taken the bus.

Adios.

We'll see you guys later.

You got that look.

What look is that?

They're on you, right?

The look of somebody who's figured out

what he wants to be when he grows up.

Hey, Brooke.

We're outta beer.

Rhino, you can't call me rookie anymore.

I made my jump.

From now I want you to just call me, Mr. Mackey.

Whatever, but you're still buying.

Where's our waitress?

It ain't natural for a woman to ignore

an entire table of smoke jumpers.

Absolutely.

I mean, we are after all

the most desirable men on the planet.

Don't you agree, Astral?

Oh, every time I catch that distinctive smell

of yours Rhino, I positively swoon.

Hey, Don.

Don, beer?

I had a first wild land firefighters here.

Let's go buddy.

Oh, your waitress will get that.

Couldn't you do it?

She makes them all foamy.

What are you guys celebrating?

I lost my virginity today.

No, I made my first fire jump.

Oh, yeah?

That's when they put the potato in your mouth, isn't?

Apple.

Why did they do that?

I don't know.

Tradition, I guess.

Hmm, so how's the fire season so far?

It's hot.

Lots of dry fuel waiting to ignite.

You can pay your waitress.

Did you like to dance?

I'm a little busy right now.

I mean, after work.

Well after work, the band won't be here.

Well, we could...

Make our own music?

Don Mackey?

I haven't seen you since that night

we saw you went for beer.

I couldn't get away, she was all over me.

Yeah, right.

See you tomorrow night.

Night Andy.

Hi, I'm Don Mackey.

I know.

I'm Rene.

So you know, I am a pretty fair country dancer.

Yeah, I'll keep that in mind.

Tell me about losing your virginity.

Well, her name was Suzie.

She had these...

I mean your jump, wise ass.

Oh, that.

It was great.

It was like Christmas day, it's the best day of my life.

You know what I mean?

There I was jumping out of an airplane,

parachuting down into what seemed like

this incredibly powerful, incredibly hungry monster.

Then you're down there on the ground,

and you get in there and you cut a fire line

with your chain saw and your Pulaski.

That's this tool we use.

Oh, I know what a Pulaski is.

I used to fight fire too.

Really?

Yeah.

I was on a BLM Crew for two summers.

Yeah, I loved it.

We'd usually get taken up the mountain in an old school bus

and there'd be like a three or four hour hike to the fire.

Sometimes, we'd see you guys parachuting down on the way up.

Angel's from heaven.

Oh, it's so modest.

How come you quit?

My daughter.

Just got nervous about it, you know?

What if something happened to me?

Daughter?

Yeah, she's five.

She's with my parents from billings till next month.

So what about the father?

Long ago, went far away.

No giant lumberjack boyfriends?

Not at the moment.

Turn around.

Why?

I just wanna see the label on your jeans.

Do I pass?

Not yet.

Come here a minute.

So what are you do in the winter?

There're no fires in the winter.

Anything to stay outdoors,

go hunting, sometimes work as a guide.

Go away live off the land for a few weeks.

Well, what do you know?

I'm dancing with Jeremiah Johnson.

Tell me about the lady bartender.

We had a certain rapport.

Sure looked like it there.

She used to fight fire, you know?

Yeah? Good for her.

Classen, guess how Astral got her name?

How?

Her parents named her after a Van Morrison album.

Nothing scared and hippy parents.

Hey, hey, hey.

It was a really good album, right?

When do I get to jump again?

You're on rotation.

All we need is a fire.

You think you can wait?

No.

It ain't much of a career,

seasonal work, low pay, no benefits.

Yeah, but you get to jump outta airplanes

and put out fires.

There's that and every once in a while,

an appointment slot will open up,

13 guaranteed pay periods, health insurance.

It's almost like a real job.

What do I gotta do to get one of those?

You stay patient.

You keep your skills sharp and you wax your competition.

Hey, there's your competition right there.

Rhino!

Yo!

Get those tools up here.

Coming up.

Nice.