firefighter | The Filson Journal

Smokey Bear: An American Icon of Forest Ecology

Smokey the bear’s message has remained unchanged since the 1940s. A message to the American public: that you, I, and everyone shared a responsibility to prevent forest fires. This is the story of that iconic bear.

5 Min

Field Notes

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter Workout Series

We worked with the guys at MTNTOUGH Fitness Lab to bring those simple but effective routines to you and whatever space you occupy to help you keep physically fit and mentally sharp. Here you’ll find each workout in our series. Take ’em one by one or, if you’re up for a serious challenge, try to run through the whole routine.

3 Min

Profiles

Paul Roberts – the Man Behind the Mustache

Father, husband, firefighter, engineer, hockey player, Black Belt, personal trainer, and grave digger—just some of the titles that Paul Roberts has or currently holds. We caught up with Paul to hear more about his tireless work serving his community and why he’ll never get stuck doing something that makes him unhappy.

5 Min

hotshots walking through dirt path in forest carrying their gear to location

Field Notes

BIA: INTER-AGENCY HOTSHOTS – NATIVE AMERICAN FIRE CREWS

NATIVE AMERICAN FIRE CREWS were officially formed in 1910—known as the Division of Forestry, a part of the BIA—and tasked with protecting tribal timber holdings. As one might imagine, these crews were incredibly effective.

1 Min

Man dwarfed by large rock face stands at foot of reflective pond gazing upward

Field Notes

From The Archives: Man of the Woods, 1951

Photo and Story courtesy of Sam McJunkin. “My father, Samuel McJunkin, in 1951 after a forest fire fighting effort in the Cascade mountain range in Washington State. He worked for the Forest Service during the summers to help pay for college. He’s now 83 – still swings an axe – heats his house with wood.

Profiles

Trade Stories: Aaron Fields, Firefighter

Aaron Fields has been a firefighter for over 13 years, 6 of which have been spent training others in the state fire academy. After a close call in his first fire due to incomplete training, he has devoted his days to perfecting a hybrid fire hose handling method called Nozzle Forward. Now, Aaron can be

Profiles

Trade Stories: Jason Ramos, Smokejumper

Jason Ramos has devoted 25 years of his life to the fire service. Now a full-fledged smokejumper working out of Winthrop, Washington, Jason has learned to expect the unexpected everyday. On a clouded and cool afternoon, Filson caught up with Jason aboard his ‘home away from home,’ a custom camper Sportsmobile. How did you

Smokey Bear: An American Icon of Forest Ecology

Train Like a Wildland Firefighter Workout Series

Paul Roberts – the Man Behind the Mustache

BIA: INTER-AGENCY HOTSHOTS – NATIVE AMERICAN FIRE CREWS

From The Archives: Man of the Woods, 1951

Trade Stories: Aaron Fields, Firefighter

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Trade Stories: Jason Ramos, Smokejumper