Watch: Smokejumper Dives Towards Colorado Wildfire

By Jeff Todd

(CBS4) - On the same day the Himes Peak Fire was declared 100 percent contained, the White River National Forest released a thrilling video of a smokejumper heading toward the fire on the day it grew rapidly.

The Himes Peak Fire, 30 miles east of Meeker, is believed to have started by a lightning strike on Sept. 1. It took a week to grow and crews were assigned on Sept. 7. The fire reached 112 acres but is now declared out.

The video is a rare look into one of the most dangerous firefighting jobs.

Seven smokejumpers were deployed to the Himes Peak Fire.

Wildfire Resources

- Visit CBSDenver.com's Living With Wildfire section.

Wildfire Photo Galleries

- See images from the most destructive wildfires (Black Forest, Waldo Canyon, High Park and Fourmile), the deadliest (Storm King) and largest wildfire (Hayman) in Colorado history.

Jeff Todd joined the CBS4 team in 2011 covering the Western Slope in the Mountain Newsroom. Since 2015 he's been working across the Front Range in the Denver Headquarters. Follow him on Twitter @CBS4Jeff.