Wildfires consume millions of acres of forests, destroy entire communities, and expose workers to hazardous smoke and vapors. Since the turn of the century, not a single year has passed in which the U.S. suffered fewer than 40,000 uncontrolled burns in a single year.

In fact, wildfires exceeded 10 million destroyed acres three times over the last 10 years. California ranks among the states with the greatest number of losses, and 1,279,214 homes are considered at-risk.

The prevalence of these destructive fires is predicted to increase in the coming years. That also means more personnel will respond, placing firefighters and other occupations in harm’s way. It’s critical for employers to develop safety measures and maintain an inventory of protective clothing for wildfire smoke.

What Industries and Occupations Face Exposure to Wildfire Smoke?

Notions about how to safely work through wildfire smoke tend to be laser-focused on firefighters and other first responders. The conventional thinking revolves around the men and women tasked with quelling these massive blazes. Although wildfire smoke hazards and safety measures are typically considered in this narrow context, a few thousand burning acres send plumes of hazardous smoke into the air for miles.

According to data published by the Western Fire Chiefs Association, smoke can indiscriminately travel hundreds of miles. Considering the airborne toxins in this air linger for weeks, wide-reaching occupations and workers such as the following may need protective clothing for wildfire smoke.

  • Hotshot Forest Fire Teams
  • Helicopter and Small Plane Pilots
  • National Park Service Employees
  • Bureau of Land Management Staff Members
  • Construction Workers
  • Landscapers
  • Ranchers and Farmers
  • Fire Engine Drivers and Crews
  • Smoke Jumpers
  • Helitack Crews

 

More than 10,000 members of the U.S. Forest Service respond to thousands of wildfires each year. They are responsible for restricting the movement of seemingly out-of-control burns through the National Forest System, on Tribal lands, and other jurisdictions. Members of the U.S. Forest Service also conduct controlled burns to eliminate dead leaves, brush, and other easily combustible materials. That being said, people who perform these prescribed burns are also exposed to harmful smoke.

Common Injuries Suffered by Woodland Firefighters

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates that an average of nearly 22,000 forest firefighters suffer workplace injuries annually. An NFPA study indicates that 23 percent of wildland fire injuries resulted in lost work time, and 15 percent of forest firefighters who required medical attention returned. Another 13 percent needed on-site first aid to continue battling wildfires.

These rank among the leading injuries suffered by woodland firefighters.

  • Cut, Bruises, & Lacerations: Upwards of 8 percent of reported injuries involved hard impacts to the body or open wounds.
  • Exhaustion: Heat, dehydration, and strenuous activities left 5 percent of firefighters with symptoms of fatigue and exhaustion.
  • Pain and Discomfort: More than 10 percent experienced pain and discomfort because of job-related exertion and hard impacts
  • Smoke Inhalation: One-quarter of all woodland firefighting injuries were due to breathing in toxic air and smoke.
  • Strains and Sprains: A reported 21 percent of forest firefighters sustained these types of injuries while extinguishing flames or moving equipment.
  • Thermal Burns: An estimated 7 percent of frontline firefighters were significantly burned on the job.

Although wide-ranging wounds were inflicted throughout firefighters’ bodies, internal injuries (28 percent) and trachea and lung damage (25 percent) outpaced all others.

What Makes Wildfire Smoke So Dangerous?

It’s essential to distinguish the smoke generated from wildfires from the burning wood in stoves and campfires. Unlike clean-burning logs and sticks, wildfires contain a mixture of pollutants, water vapors, and unknown particles. Experts may refer to wildfire smoke more accurately by calling it “particle pollution” in general terms.

Unlike campfire smoke, a high percentage of liquid droplets are lifted by the heat. The particles clinging to the steam are usually from materials that combust relatively easily. Passenger car gasoline, diesel fuel, plastics, Styrofoam products, and many others are transformed from liquids and solids to vapors. These sometimes-microscopic elements can contain dangerous chemicals such as ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, and sodium chloride, as well as acids.

Adding to the particle mixture, wildlife smoke may be rife with soot, heavy metals, organic compounds, and mold spores. Those and many other clear and present health hazards find their way into people’s lungs. Whether someone is on the frontline of a fire brigade or working on a farm 10 miles away, their lungs and internal organs are threatened.

Health Effects of Short-Term and Long-Term Exposure to Wildfire Smoke

People were urged to spend time outdoors during the pandemic to slow the spread of Covid. These days, the prevalence of wildfires has harshly impacted air quality in certain regions of the U.S. and Canada. With that premise in mind, a group of Yale Medicine researchers assessed the effects of wildfire smoke, aka particle pollution, on everyday people.

Particle pollution contains what scientists call “particle matter,” tiny bits that cannot be inhaled and expelled without raising a health risk. While reductions in air quality miles from uncontained burns harmed the lungs and windpipes of vulnerable individuals, close proximity exposure left forest firefighters and supporting workers in immediate jeopardy.

The minuscule particles inhaled from wildfire smoke are carried by the bloodstream to muscles, organs, and even the brain. That’s when long-term ailments such as cardiovascular disease, strokes, lung cancer, and diminished cognitive functions can be triggered. These sometimes-fatal conditions usually follow short-term symptoms such as the following.

  • Coughing and Wheezing
  • Shortness of Breath
  • Runny Nose
  • Watery Eyes and Vision Problems
  • Asthma Attacks
  • Irregular Heartbeats
  • Fatigue and Nausea

 

While these and other symptoms may only last a few days, the carcinogens that enter the body through wildfire smoke persist. Particle pollutants can cause cancers that won’t present for years. That’s why wildfire smoke hazards and safety measures are critical.

How to Safely Work Through Wildfire Smoke

The ability to cope with short-term or prolonged exposure to particle pollution calls for a safety action plan and protective clothing for wildfire smoke. Teams engaged in digging ditches and lighting break fires are tested both physically and mentally.

The underlying stress of working against unpredictable flames can result in dehydration, racing heartbeats, and emotional distress. If you or your employees perform outdoor tasks within the particle pollution radius, these are tips on how to safely work through wildfire smoke and poor air quality conditions.

  • Move Job Activities Indoors Whenever Possible
  • Reschedule Work Until Smoke Density Wanes
  • Minimize Tasks that Typically Kick Up Dust
  • Postpone Activities that Create Fumes or Additional Smoke
  • Reduce Strenuous Physical Duties When Poor Air Quality Persists
  • Enclose Work Areas and Deploy Air Filtration Systems
  • Establish Frequent Work Breaks
  • Set Up Hydration Stations
  • Provide NIOSH-Approved, Fit-Tested Respirators

 

Monitoring air quality conditions provides baseline data to make informed decisions about workplace safety. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers an online platform where safety officials and employers can get accurate information about air quality conditions. Called AirNow, you can type in the location’s zip code to gauge the current metrics.

What Types of PPE Should Be Used When Fighting Wildfires?

Wildfire smoke hazards and safety measures go hand-in-hand. Frontline firefighting teams face constant danger from adverse conditions, environments that are difficult to navigate, and the presence of particle pollutants. The people who step up to fight wildfires, and keep the public and businesses safe, deserve the best possible PPE and disposable protective clothing.

These rank among the mission-critical protective clothing for wildfire smoke and other hazards.

  • Properly Fit-Tested Respiratory Protective Equipment
  • Face Shields and Eye Protections
  • Flame-Resistant Protective Clothing
  • Rubber Boots, Gloves, and Head Gear

Hard Hats and Hearing Protections