Extreme heat is taking a toll on firefighters as wildfires stretch crews to the limit
When a wildfire threatens a community, most people don't think to ask whether the firefighters coming to help slept enough the night before, recovered from the previous day's shift or have enough energy left for another day on the fireline. They simply expect firefighters to show up.
Extreme heat is putting a strain on firefighters as wildfires compel crews to work beyond their limits. The U.S. government declared the nation's firefighting readiness at its highest level, signifying that resources are completely utilized, and some areas might need emergency staffing to handle the workload. In late August, over 90 large fires were being fought across the country, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit (38 degrees Celsius) in the Southwest and Texas.
Wildland firefighters face heat in three ways: environmental heat from sun and high temperatures, radiant heat from flames, and internal metabolic heat generated by their own bodies while hiking, clearing brush, and cutting fire lines. The body responds by diverting more blood to the skin to dissipate heat while supplying oxygen to working muscles, which can lead to blood volume depletion, increased heart rate, and a feeling of increased effort required to fight fires.
Studies indicate that 61% of wildland firefighters reached a core temperature of 100 F (38 C) or higher, and 50% had a physiological strain index of 6 or higher, indicating significant physical stress. Even fully hydrated firefighters can overheat when heat production surpasses heat dissipation. Heat strain symptoms may include fatigue, headaches, dizziness, weakness, or nausea, potentially escalating to heat exhaustion or heat stroke, which could affect vital organs.
Additionally, firefighters may experience rhabdomyolysis, a muscle breakdown leading to kidney injury. Heat also adds to fatigue, as firefighters often work long shifts, averaging 13.8 hours on fire-fighting days with only 6.7 hours of sleep.
Written by urgent.news from The Conversation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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