Stationed in northern Nevada, Jake Klass has been thrown straight into a chaotic first fire season, where rough terrain and temperamental weather keep his days unpredictable.
“My first big fire was the Lick Fire, which [became] the Swift Fire,” he recalls, the rotor of the helicopter still thumping in his memories.
“I remember some crazy flames, and it was very, very hot. WIth how big the flames were, we couldn’t even do anything. Helicopters were called in for backup to drop water,” he says.
Becoming a wildland firefighter was natural for Klass. He grew up surrounded by family in the same field. Combined with a love of hiking and the outdoors, his future mapped itself out.
“I thought it’d be a good idea to get paid to do what I love,” he said, but the job isn’t quite like the hobbies he’s used to, and he’s still knee deep in the adjustment period.
An average day at his station is tiring, but it’s the fourteen day assignments that drain him the most, he says. The weight he carries, roughly 60 pounds strapped to his back, takes a toll.
“You definitely feel it in your neck, your back, your legs, and even your feet,” he said. “I think people understand it’s a dangerous job, but if you’re not physically fit enough for what the job demands, you become a hazard.”
On top of the physical pressure, there’s the mental factor of being away from friends and family, knowing the risk of injury or even the possibility of never returning home. It’s the adrenaline that keeps him pushing. “For me, I love it. You have to stay alert and give it your full attention because anything could happen. I love being in the action. I’m kind of an adrenaline junky,” Klass admits.
While content with his current position on an engine, he looks forward to eventually taking the job even further. Whether it is propelling himself from a helicopter or flying one himself, he plans to stay in the thick of it.
“It’s a cool job, it kicks your ass for sure, but you make really good friends,” he said. “I found a family in the guys that I see every day.”
