LibGuides: Firefighting: Wildland Urban Interface: Wildland Firefighters' Health

This page looks at the issues affecting the health of wildland firefighters and those living in areas heavily impacted by wildfires, the research investigating the effects, and the measures being taken to protect, preserve, and improve the health of those engaged with responding to and living with an ever growing annual number of wildland fires.

General Health Guidance Around Wildland Fires

CDC- Safety Guidelines: After a Wildfire
The CDC offers recommendations for those returning to their homes after a wildfire, including avoiding contact with ash whenever possible and checking air quality reports.
CDC - Guidelines for Cleaning Safely After a Disaster
These tips specifically address how to protect yourself while cleaning your home and grounds after a disaster. Scroll to the bottom and click 'Protecting Yourself From Chemicals After a Disaster' for more.

Firefighters' Health

Health Effects of Wildfire Smoke Infographic
From the Chest Infections and the Disaster Response Network and the American College of Chest Physicians, 2023
CDC/NIOSH - Wildland Fires
"NIOSH offers resources to help prevent on-duty injuries, illnesses, and deaths from hazards and exposures associated with fighting wildland fires."
Characterization of inhalation exposures at a wildfire incident during the Wildland Firefighter Exposure and Health Effects (WFFEHE) Study
"Wildland firefighters (WFFs) are exposed to many inhalation hazards working in the wildland fire environment. To assess occupational exposures and acute and subacute health effects among WFFs, the wildland firefighter exposure and health effects study collected data for a 2-year repeated measures study."
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Kathleen M Navarro, Kenneth Fent, Alexander C Mayer, Scott E Brueck, Christine Toennis, Brandon Law, Juliana Meadows, Deborah Sammons, Skylar Brown, Characterization of inhalation exposures at a wildfire incident during the Wildland Firefighter Exposure and Health Effects (WFFEHE) Study, Annals of Work Exposures and Health, Volume 67, Issue 8, October 2023, Pages 1011–1017, https://doi.org/10.1093/annweh/wxad046
NWCG - Effects of Smoke Exposure
A 6 Minutes for Safety article discusses the various ways breathing in smoke can impact your health.