Wildland Firefighters and Covid-19

This section provides comparative analyses and a synthesis of several scientific studies and policy documents issued to date on this topic.

Wildland firefighters are at extra risk for Covid-19 due to smoke inhalation and crowded, unsanitary working conditions. Government officials voice concerns about risks to the general public from smoke emissions and crowded and evacuation centers, but are neglecting adequate health and safety measures to protect wildland firefighters who literally put their lungs on the line.

FUSEE will continue monitoring policy developments while we advocate for strong, science-based policies to protect health and safety of all wildland firefighters--federal, state, private, and volunteers. Policymakers and the public must come to value wildland firefighters as essential, not expendable workers.