The shifting of firefighters has also brought a team of Smokejumpers to Fresno's Air Attack Base, ready to suit up and head out in an instant. The parachuting firefighters arrived from Redding Tuesday. When called upon, they jump out of a Sherpa and onto the fire lines, carrying 85 pounds of gear. Other tools are dropped in behind them. "All the food we need for three days, hand tools to fire the fire, with shovels and chainsaws," said Smokejumper Jerry Spence.
The smoke jumpers will stay in Fresno until they're needed or until the threat clears. But in Kern County, that threat is far from over.
