Wildfire fighters are often seen as heroes. They courageously face the wrath of nature’s fury, standing firm between raging flames and vulnerable communities. Yet, beneath this heroic portrayal lies a tough reality that these fearless individuals encounter every day.
Despite years of calls for better safety measures, the US Forest Service continues to send firefighters into dangerous situations without supplying the necessary equipment or sufficient warnings. The organization responsible for safeguarding their welfare is often overlooking it, which forces them to face hazardous conditions so toxic that they are becoming ill and even losing their lives.
Take the recent wildfires in Los Angeles, for instance; for nearly a month, while the flames continued to spread, smoke hung in the air like a dense blanket, incessantly suffocating those on the front lines. Reports from The New York Times revealed that firefighters experienced debilitating migraines, coughed up dark, thick substances and suffered severe symptoms such as vomiting and dizziness. Seven months later, some are still waking up at night, struggling to breathe. One firefighter’s vocal cords were so severely damaged that his young son jokingly said he sounds like a supervillain. Another firefighter, once a proud athlete capable of running a mile in six minutes, now finds it difficult just to jog.
Fernando Allende, a 33-year-old whose US Forest Service crew was among the first to respond to the LA wildfires, thought he would recover from his persistent cough. But in June, while battling another fire, he suddenly found it hard to breathe. At the hospital, doctors found blood clots in his lungs and a mass pressing on his heart. They diagnosed him with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, an aggressive type of cancer that is typically seen in older people.
Wildfire crews used to be seasonal laborers, fitting in fire deployments between other jobs, often enjoying the luxury of winter and spring to recover from the rigors of their work. The few bad smoke days they faced each year felt manageable, a temporary inconvenience in the grand scheme of their seasonal schedules. But nowadays, the changing climate has turned the tables dramatically.
As the United States scuffles with escalating drought and extreme heat, wildfires now ignite earlier, burn longer and spread further than ever before. This shift has transformed firefighting into a nearly year-round job, leaving crews to battle flames more frequently and for longer stretches. The relentless nature of their work has taken a toll, with many firefighters finding themselves in a constant state of deployment, often with little time to recover from the physical and mental strains of the profession.
“I’ve been on eight of the 10 biggest fires in California history. Now I can’t even push a shopping cart without having chest pain,” said Brian Wangerin, a former crew leader who battled wildfires for ten years until heart issues forced him to stop working at 33. “I can’t hold my kids.”
The rise in illnesses among these workers is overwhelming. They are developing cancers in their 20s, struggling with heart diseases in their 30s and some are even waiting for lung transplants in their 40s. The sheer intensity of their work, coupled with the increased frequency and severity of wildfires, has created a health crisis among those who risk their lives to protect our communities.
Online groups for wildfire workers have become a heartbreaking space where the community rallies to support young firefighters facing devastating health battles. It’s not uncommon to scroll through these forums and see urgent requests for money to cover chemotherapy and radiation treatments, as many brave men and women find themselves fighting cancer at alarmingly young ages. Unfortunately, these posts often come with updates that bring a chill to the heart – news of passing and funeral arrangements that serve as grim reminders of the toll this job can take.
Studies have long shown that exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to serious heart and lung problems, cancer and even early death. And some of the latest research also digs into the cellular impacts, documenting issues like cancer markers and immune system abnormalities that are alarmingly prevalent among firefighters. Forest Service researchers have repeatedly called out these risks, urging the agency to provide masks, monitor smoke exposure and assess the long-term health effects on firefighters. However, the Forest Service continues to send crews into smoky areas without any respiratory protection, distribute masks, and neglects to include information about the long-term risks of smoke exposure in its safety guidelines. Additionally, workers are not allowed to wear masks on the front lines, even if they want to.
The agency states that it aims to keep its teams safe, but it says that wearing masks could lead to firefighters overheating. Instead, supervisors are instructed to relocate them away from thick smoke and create resting areas in cleaner air whenever possible. Even so, researchers from countries that already use them have told The Times that there have been no increases in heatstroke cases, suggesting that these safety measures can be applied without harming firefighter health. They say that firefighters often take off or adjust their masks when it gets too hot, showing they are trying to balance safety and comfort. However, the Forest Service may be hesitant to fully adopt this practice due to a deeper concern: admitting the serious dangers of wildfire smoke could lead to expensive changes.
Due to budget limitations and a small workforce, around 1,747 incarcerated individuals are currently helping to combat wildfires in California. They represent about 30% of the state’s wildland firefighting team through the Conservation Fire Camp Program, where they work alongside CAL FIRE and local departments, blending community service with fire management. According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, they earn a daily base pay ranging from $5.80 to $10.24, plus an extra $1 per hour during active emergencies. During a 24-hour shift in an active emergency, this could mean a total of $29.80 for the lowest-paid worker. Given this situation, the agency may be reluctant to hire more crews, offer additional breaks, or arrange nearby accommodations for firefighters to ensure their safety and rest.
Unions representing wildland firefighters have been lobbying for years to secure better protections and benefits for their members, and their efforts finally bore fruit in 2022 when Congress stepped up by granting federal firefighters workers’ compensation coverage for a range of serious health issues, including several types of cancer, COPD, heart attacks and strokes. This legislation was a significant win, as it allowed firefighters to receive support without needing to prove a direct link between their dangerous jobs and these debilitating illnesses. However, the victory was somewhat short-lived, as the Trump administration’s decision to cut administrative staff this year has cast a shadow over the progress made. These cuts have led to a confusing and frustrating situation for firefighters seeking approvals for their claims, resulting in long wait times and added stress for those who have already sacrificed so much.
The illness that keeps these brave individuals up at night is cancer, and for good reason – researchers have identified at least 31 carcinogens lurking in wildfire smoke, not to mention a slew of other harmful particles that can wreak havoc on their health.
“None of us really have any information about the inherent risks,” said Jacob Dale, a 30-year-old firefighter from Oregon who has developed precancerous nodules in his lungs. “It feels like superhero work.”
These experiences reveal the hidden toll of firefighting that goes beyond the obvious blaze. It’s a pressing issue that demands immediate focus and action to ensure the health hazards linked to wildfires are properly acknowledged, so these selfless and dedicated individuals have a space where their concerns are heard and their needs are prioritized.
After all, if we’re going to celebrate these brave souls as heroes, we must also take up the mantle of responsibility to safeguard them.
