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Wildland firefighters experience a range of physical and mental health stressors, which scientists acknowledge can lead to short and long-term health effects. Current firefighter health research addresses topics such as smoke exposure, reproductive health, sleep, fitness, and chronic injuries. Firefighters working in hazardous situations can experience trauma, depression, harrassment, and/or substance abuse. The schedule demands of being away from family for long periods and working long shifts under difficult conditions also creates unique challenges. The impacts of these health concerns on individuals, and the greater wildland firefighter profession, are receiving increased attention from government agencies, researchers, health professionals, and the wildland firefighter community.

Many of the resources included in this hot topic were originally identified during a 3-day series of presentations and panel discussions, Wildland Firefighter Health Series: Current Knowledge for Body, Mind, and Well-being. During the series, professionals and agency leaders shared some of the current science, knowledge, and tools available to support wildland firefighter physical and mental health.

Publications

2024

External drivers of changes in wildland firefighter safety policies and practices
Alissa Cordner
Limited availability of health risk communication related to community smoke exposure from prescribed burns in the United States: a review
Margaux Joe et al.
Preliminary Assessment of Tunic Off-Gassing after Wildland Firefighting Exposure
Kiam Padamsey et al.
Fighting fire and fumes: risk awareness and protective practices among Western Australian firefighters
Kiam Padamsey et al.
Environmental health of wildland firefighters: a scoping review
M. Bryan Held et al.

2023

Occupational and environmental factors influencing morale of United States federal wildland firefighters
Rachel M. Granberg et al.
Short-term effects of air pollutant exposure on small airway dysfunction, spirometry, health-related quality of life, and inflammatory biomarkers in wildland firefighters: a pilot study
Nutchanok Niyatiwatchanchai et al.
Evaluation of Air Quality inside Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus Used by Firefighters
Soo Jin Kim et al.
Assessment of wildland firefighter opinions and experiences related to incident medical providers
Mark Hoffman et al.
Effects of Temperature and Advanced Cleaning Practices on the Removal of Select Organic Chemicals from Structural Firefighter Gear
Crystal D. Forester et al.
Firefighter Stress, Anxiety, and Diminished Compliance-Oriented Safety Behaviors: Consequences of Passive Safety Leadership in the Fire Service?
Todd D. Smith et al.
The Effect of Leadership Style on Firefighters Well-Being during an Emergency
Luis Curral et al.
Factors Associated with Concurrent Tobacco Smoking and Heavy Drinking within a Women Firefighters’ Sample
Nattinee Jitnarin et al.

2022

Wildfire Smoke and Public Health: Science and Technology Development to Reduce Risk
Alice Gilliland et al.
Health risks and mitigation strategies from occupational exposure to wildland fire: a scoping review
Erica Koopmans et al.
Long-term health effects of wildfire exposure: a scoping review
Emily Grant et al.
The impact of water on firefighter protective clothing thermal performance and steam burn occurrence in firefighters
André Fonseca Malaquias et al.
Health research priorities for wildland firefighters: a modified Delphi study with stakeholder interviews
Chelsea A. Pelletier et al.
Association Between Atrial Fibrillation and Occupational Exposure in Firefighters Based on Self‐Reported Survey Data
Catherine Vanchiere et al.
Deterioration of Lipid Metabolism Despite Fitness Improvements in Wildland Firefighters
Alejandro M. Rosales et al.
Managing Wildland Fire in a Pandemic

2021

The association between heart rate variability, reaction time, and indicators of workplace fatigue in wildland firefighters
Andrew T. Jeklin et al.
The Wildland Firefighter Exposure and Health Effect (WFFEHE) study: rationale, design, and methods of a repeated-measures study
Kathleen M. Navarro et al.
Nutrient Intake of Wildland Firefighters During Arduous Wildfire Suppression
Samantha J. Brooks et al.
Wildland firefighter exposure to smoke and COVID-19: A new risk on the fire line
Kathleen M. Navarro et al.
Consequences of a future increase in fire: the human health perspective
Nancy H. F. French et al.
Effect of vented helmets on heat stress during wildland firefighter simulation
Katherine Christison et al.
Alterations in Metabolic and Cardiovascular Risk Factors During Critical Training in Wildland Firefighters
Shae Gurney et al.
Carbon monoxide exposures in wildland firefighters in the United States and targets for exposure reduction
Erin O. Semmens et al.
Wildland firefighters’ thermal exposure in relation to suppression tasks
Belén Carballo-Leyenda et al.
Effect of uncompensable heat from the wildland firefighter helmet
Shae Gurney et al.
Exposure to Particulate Matter and Estimation of Volatile Organic Compounds across Wildland Firefighter Job Tasks
Kathleen M. Navarro et al.
Effects of Crew Size on Firefighter Health and Safety
Lori Moore-Merrell et al.

2020

Responding to simultaneous crises: communications and social norms of mask behavior during wildfires and COVID-19
Francisca N. Santana et al.
Working in Smoke:: Wildfire Impacts on the Health of Firefighters and Outdoor Workers and Mitigation Strategies
Kathleen M. Navarro
Seasonal changes in wildland firefighter fitness and body composition
Steven E. Gaskill et al.
Firefighter neural function and decision-making following rapid heat stress
Cory J. Coehoorn et al.
Optimizing Firefighter Nutrition: Average Glycemic Index of Fireline Meals
Ben McLane
Sustained Effects on Lung Function in Community Members Following Exposure to Hazardous PM2.5 Levels from Wildfire Smoke
Ava Orr et al.
Measuring acute pulmonary responses to occupational wildland fire smoke exposure using exhaled breath condensate
Chieh-Ming Wu et al.

2019

The effects of hydration on cognitive performance during a simulated wildfire suppression shift in temperate and hot conditions
Michael A. Cvirn et al.
Descriptive analysis of injuries and illnesses self-reported by wildland firefighters
Valerie J. Moody et al.
Wildland firefighting: adverse influence on indices of metabolic and cardiovascular health
R.H. Coker et al.
Noise exposures and perceptions of hearing conservation programs among wildland firefighters
George A. Broyles et al.
A systematic review of the health impacts of occupational exposure to wildland fires
Emily Groot et al.

2018

Sleep in wildland firefighters: what do we know and why does it matter?
Grace E. Vincent et al.
Body Composition Changes of United States Smokejumpers during the 2017 Fire Season
Callie N. Collins et al.
Metabolic demand of hiking in wildland firefighting
Joseph A. Sol et al.

2017

Wildland Firefighters' Self-Reported Nutrition and Hydration Concerns that May Impact Health and Safety
Samantha Worden et al.
Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon of Wildland Firefighters at Prescribed and Wildland Fires
Kathleen M. Navarro et al.

2016

Sleep quantity and quality is not compromised during planned burn shifts of less than 12 h
Grace E. Vincent et al.

2015

Fighting fire and fatigue: sleep quantity and quality during multi-day wildfire suppression
Grace E. Vincent et al.

2014

Work patterns dictate energy demands and thermal strain during wildland firefighting
John S. Cuddy et al.

2012

"Awake, smoky, and hot": providing an evidence-base for managing the risks associated with occupational stressors encountered by wildland firefighters
Brad Aisbett et al.

2011

Glycogen levels in wildland firefighters during wildfire suppression
John S. Cuddy et al.

2008

Effects of an electrolyte additive on hydration and drinking behavior during wildfire suppression
John S. Cuddy et al.

2007

Supplemental feedings increase self-selected work output during wildfire suppression
John S. Cuddy et al.

2003

Water turnover and changes in body composition during arduous wildfire suppression
Brent Ruby et al.

2002

Total energy expenditure during arduous wildfire suppression
Brent Ruby et al.