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The present efforts to fight and control the devastating Florida wildfires again highlight the heroic role of fire fighters in protecting lives and property. NIOSH offers resources for fire departments, fire fighters, and partner organizations to prevent injury, illness, and death in the line of duty from hazards associated with fighting wildfires. These hazards can include burns, heat stress, smoke inhalation, risk of injury from operations involving rough terrain and unstable structures, and other dangers. NIOSH also provides resources for responders in rescue and clean-up activities.
Key Resources
Worker
Safety During Fire Cleanup
CDC Fact Sheet details types of hazards that workers may face
during fire clean up efforts, including electrical hazards, carbon monoxide
poisoning, musculoskeletal hazards, heat stress, hazardous materials,
& confined spaces.
Fact Sheet: What You
Should Know In Deciding Whether to Buy Escape Hoods, Gas Masks, or Other
Respirators for Preparedness at Home and Work
Provides information on what respirators are, how they work, and what
is needed for a respirator to provide adequate protection.
Working in Hot Environments
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 86-112 (April 1986)
Reprinted 1992, with Minor Changes
En
Español
This publication discusses the safety and health consequences of heat
stress.
Hazard ID: Fire Fighters Exposed to Electrical
Hazards During Wildland Fire Operations
En
Español
NIOSH investigated two separate incidents in 1999 in which fire fighters
died or were seriously injured from exposures to electricity while fighting
wildland fires.
Related NIOSH Topic Pages
Heat Stress
Respirators:
Firefighters
Emergency Response Resources:
Electrical Safety
Health Hazard Evaluations
NIOSH conducts Health Hazard Evaluations (HHEs) to find out whether there
are health hazards to employees caused by exposures or conditions in the
workplace.
Some recent HHE reports related to firefighting have been listed below.
For a comprehensive listing of HHE reports please search the HHE
Database.
- HHE Report NO. HETA 98-0173-2782, Colorado Department of Public Health
and Environment, Colorado
387 KB (24 pages)
- HHE Report No. HETA-92-045-2260, U.S. Department of the Interior,
National Park Service, New River Gorge National River, West Virginia
196 KB (17 pages)
- HHE Report No. HETA-91-312-2185, U.S. Department of the Interior,
National Park Service, Gallatin National Forest, Montana
240 KB (19 pages)
- HHE Report No. HETA-90-395-2121, International Association of Fire
Fighters (IAFF), Sedgwick County, Kansas
196 KB (21 pages)
- HHE Report No. HETA-90-0365-2415, U.S. Department of the Interior,
National Park Service, Yosemite National Park, California
10.6 MB (67 pages)
- HHE Report No. HETA-88-320-2176, U.S. Department of the Interior,
National Park Service, Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
353 KB (43 pages)
- Health Hazard Evaluation Report HETA 96-0171-2692, Bureau of Alcohol,
Tobacco, and Firearms, Washington, DC
432 KB (29 pages)
Fatality Assessment and Control Evaluation
(FACE) Reports
The NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program conducts investigations
of fire fighter line-of-duty deaths to formulate recommendations for preventing
future deaths and injuries.
Selected FACE Reports on Fighting Wildfires:
Search
All FACE Reports related to Fighting Wildfires with NIOSHTIC-2
NIOSHTIC-2 is
a searchable bibliographic database of occupational safety and health
publications, documents, grant reports, and journal articles supported
in whole or in part by NIOSH.
Other NIOSH Publications
Hazard ID: Traffic Hazards to Fire
Fighters While Working Along Roadways
En
Español
The number of fire fighters struck and killed by motor vehicles has dramatically
increased within recent years. This document details case studies and
provides recommendations for prevention.
Other Resources
Fire Safety
- CDC Emergency Preparedness and Response Web Site
National Interagency Fire Center
External Link: http://www.nifc.gov/
Forest Service Fire and
Aviation Management Web site
External Link: http://www.fs.fed.us/fire/
Firewise.org
External Link: http://www.firewise.org/
Firewise Library
External Link: http://www.firewise.org/library/
Firefighter
Safety in the Wildland/Urban Interface
External Link: http://www.firewise.org/resources/firefighter.htm#
California Department of Health Services Web SIte:
State
Health Director Offers Advice to Public on How to Protect Health During
Wildfires
http://www.applications.dhs.ca.gov/pressreleases/store/pressreleases/03-85%20oes%20logo.html
State
Health Director Warns Of Smoke from Southern California Fires
External Link: http://www.applications.dhs.ca.gov/pressreleases/store/pressreleases/03-84.html
Page last updated: May 22, 2008
Page last reviewed: April 08, 2008
Content Source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
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Fighting Wildfires
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